IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bpj/glecon/v16y2016i3p511-538n5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Inward and Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Inequality: Evidence from a Group of Middle-Income Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Huang Chao-Hsi

    (Department of Economics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Province of China)

  • Teng Kai-Fang

    (Department of Economics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Province of China)

  • Tsai Pan-Long

    (Department of Economics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Province of China)

Abstract

Using panel data of a group of 39 middle-income countries over 1981–2006, this paper examines how globalization in general and inward and outward FDI in particular affects inequality. Depending on geographical region and economic system, each component of globalization affects inequality in three groups of countries in different ways: open to inward FDI tends to affect income distribution adversely in transition economies and Latin American countries, but marginally improves income distribution in countries of the reference group. In contrast, open to outward FDI is positively associated with inequality in the reference group whereas negatively associated with that of the other two groups of countries. Crucially, improvement in human capital appears to be the single most reliable way to reduce inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang Chao-Hsi & Teng Kai-Fang & Tsai Pan-Long, 2016. "Inward and Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Inequality: Evidence from a Group of Middle-Income Countries," Global Economy Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 16(3), pages 511-538, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:glecon:v:16:y:2016:i:3:p:511-538:n:5
    DOI: 10.1515/gej-2015-0068
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1515/gej-2015-0068
    Download Restriction: For access to full text, subscription to the journal or payment for the individual article is required.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1515/gej-2015-0068?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version below or search for a different version of it.

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anderson, Edward, 2005. "Openness and inequality in developing countries: A review of theory and recent evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1045-1063, July.
    2. Bhandari, Bornali, 2007. "Effect of Inward Foreign Direct Investment on Income Inequality in Transition Countries," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 22, pages 888-928.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Philipp Heimberger, 2019. "Beeinflusst die ökonomische Globalisierung die Einkommensungleichheit? Eine Meta-Analyse," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 45(4), pages 497-529.
    2. Philipp Heimberger, 2020. "Does economic globalisation affect income inequality? A meta‐analysis," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(11), pages 2960-2982, November.
    3. Kouassi YEBOUA, 2019. "Human capital and the FDI-Income inequality nexus in African countries: Panel smooth transition regression approach," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(1(618), S), pages 73-88, Spring.
    4. Joyce, Joseph, 2022. "The Impact of FDI Income on Income Inequality in Home Countries," MPRA Paper 114564, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. repec:agr:journl:v:1(618):y:2019:i:1(618):p:73-88 is not listed on IDEAS

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chiara Franco & Elisa Gerussi, 2013. "Trade, foreign direct investments (FDI) and income inequality: Empirical evidence from transition countries," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(8), pages 1131-1160, December.
    2. Lindokuhle Talent Zungu & Lorraine Greyling & Nkanyiso Mbatha, 2022. "Nonlinear Dynamics of the Development-Inequality Nexus in Emerging Countries: The Case of a Prudential Policy Regime," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Svilena MIHAYLOVA & Silviya BRATOEVA-MANOLEVA, 2018. "Structural changes and wage inequality in the Bulgarian economy," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 9, pages 205-227, December.
    4. Muhammad Zakaria & Bashir Ahmed Fida, 2016. "Trade openness and income inequality in China and the SAARC Region," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 30(2), pages 33-44, November.
    5. Usman Qamar Sheikh & Muhammad Zafar Iqbal & Hafiz Khalil Ahmad, 2016. "The Impact of Foreign Aid, Energy Production and Human Capital on Income Inequality: A Case Study of Pakistan," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, March.
    6. Rotunno, Lorenzo & Wood, Adrian, 2020. "Wage inequality and skill supplies in a globalised world," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 529-547.
    7. Adrian Wood, 2017. "Variation in structural change around the world, 1985–2015: Patterns, causes and implications," WIDER Working Paper Series 034a, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Yang, Zhen & Gao, Weijun & Han, Qing & Qi, Liyan, 2024. "Aggravating or alleviating? Smart city construction and urban inequality in China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    9. Hrushikesh Mallick & Mantu Kumar Mahalik & Hemachandra Padhan, 2020. "Does globalization exacerbate income inequality in two largest emerging economies? The role of FDI and remittances inflows," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 67(4), pages 443-480, December.
    10. Liu, Wen-Hsien & Tsai, Pan-Long & Tsay, Ching-Lung, 2015. "Domestic impacts of outward FDI in Taiwan: Evidence from panel data of manufacturing firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 469-484.
    11. Lorenzo Rotunno & Adrian Wood, 2015. "Wages and endowments in a globalised world," Economics Papers 2015-W11, Economics Group, Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
    12. Andre Varella Mollick & Rene Cabral Torres, 2007. "Productivity Effects on Mexican Manufacturing Employment before and after NAFTA," CID Working Papers 152, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    13. Ionel Sergiu Pirju & Gabriela Marchis & Manuela Panaitescu & Nicolae Florin Prunău & Alisa Mihaela Ambrozie, 2023. "Foreign Direct Investments—A Perspective of Sustainability: Evidence from the Austrian and German Labor Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-18, September.
    14. Luigi Mastronardi & Aurora Cavallo, 2020. "The Spatial Dimension of Income Inequality: An Analysis at Municipal Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, February.
    15. Philipp Heimberger, 2019. "Beeinflusst die ökonomische Globalisierung die Einkommensungleichheit? Eine Meta-Analyse," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 45(4), pages 497-529.
    16. Sylvain Chabe-Ferret & Julien Gourdon & Mohamed Ali Marouani & Tancrède Voituriez, 2007. "Trade-Induced Changes in Economic Inequality: Assessment Issues and Policy Implications for Developing Countries," Working Papers DT/2007/11, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    17. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Yuan, Zihao & Ho, Shan-Ju, 2022. "How does export diversification affect income inequality? International evidence," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 410-421.
    18. Hirata, Guilherme & Soares, Rodrigo R., 2016. "Competition and the Racial Wage Gap: Testing Becker's Model of Employer Discrimination," IZA Discussion Papers 9764, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    19. Saccone Donatella, 2008. "Economic openness, skill demand and skill supply in three archetypes of developing countries: a theoretical and empirical investigation," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 200813, University of Turin.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    globalization; foreign direct investment; income distribution; inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F63 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Economic Development
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bpj:glecon:v:16:y:2016:i:3:p:511-538:n:5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Peter Golla (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.degruyter.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.