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Does Foreign Direct Investment Promote Economic Growth? Evidence from a Threshold Regression Analysis

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  • Wu Jyun-Yi

    (Department of Economics, National Central University)

  • Hsu Chih-Chiang

    (Department of Economics, National Central University)

Abstract

Using threshold regression techniques developed by Caner and Hansen(2004),this paper examines whether the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth is dependent upon different absorptive capacities. There are three absorptive capacities, namely, initial GDP, human capital and the volume of trade, that are used as threshold variables in our paper. The empirical analysis shows that FDI alone plays an ambiguous role in contributing to economic growth based on a sample of 62 countries covering the period from 1975 through 2000. Under the threshold regression, we find that initial GDP and human capital are important factors in explaining FDI. FDI is found to have a positive and significant impact on growth when host countries have better levels of initial GDP and human capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu Jyun-Yi & Hsu Chih-Chiang, 2008. "Does Foreign Direct Investment Promote Economic Growth? Evidence from a Threshold Regression Analysis," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-08o10014
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    2. MeiChi Huang, 2017. "Vulnerabilities to housing bubbles: Evidence from linkages between housing prices and income fundamentals," International Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(1), pages 64-91, March.
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    4. Naijela Janaina Costa Silveira & Diogo Ferraz & Eduardo Polloni‐Silva & Diego Scarpa de Mello & Fernanda Pereira Sartori Falguera & Herick Fernando Moralles, 2022. "Modeling the building blocks of country‐level absorptive capacity: Comparing developed and emergent economies," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(3), pages 783-824, July.
    5. Munyanyi, Musharavati Ephraim, 2017. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth nexus in Zimbabwe: A cointegration approach," MPRA Paper 77946, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Ibhagui, Oyakhilome, 2017. "How Does Foreign Direct Investment Affect Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa? New Evidence from Non-threshold and Threshold Analysis," MPRA Paper 85784, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Jeffrey A. Edwards & Alfredo A. Romero & Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, 2016. "Foreign direct investment, economic growth, and volatility: a useful model for policymakers," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 681-705, September.
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    9. Ullah, Sana & Usman, Ahmed & Imran, Muhammad, 2019. "The Past, Present, and Future of FDI: Towards a better Global Economics," Journal of Quantitative Methods, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan, vol. 3(2), pages 28-44.
    10. Ji Uk Kim, 2020. "Technology diffusion, absorptive capacity, and income convergence for Asian developing countries: a dynamic spatial panel approach," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 569-598, August.
    11. Hasanov, Fakhri J. & Aliyev, Ruslan & Taskin, Dilvin & Suleymanov, Elchin, 2023. "Oil rents and non-oil economic growth in CIS oil exporters. The role of financial development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
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    13. James Temitope Dada & Ezekiel Olamide Abanikanda, 2022. "The moderating effect of institutions in foreign direct investment led growth hypothesis in Nigeria," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 903-929, May.
    14. Ștefan Cristian Gherghina & Liliana Nicoleta Simionescu & Oana Simona Hudea, 2019. "Exploring Foreign Direct Investment–Economic Growth Nexus—Empirical Evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-33, September.
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    16. Mohammed B. Yusoff & Ruslee Nuh, 2015. "Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Openness and Economic Growth," Foreign Trade Review, , vol. 50(2), pages 73-84, May.
    17. K. S. Sujit & B. Rajesh Kumar & Sarbjit Singh Oberoi, 2020. "Impact of Macroeconomic, Governance and Risk Factors on FDI Intensity—An Empirical Analysis," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-14, December.
    18. Mohammad Mushfiqul Haque MUKIT & Assim Ibrahim ABDEL-RAZZAQ & Mohammad Safiqul ISLAM, 2020. "Relationship between Unemployment and Macroeconomics Aggregates: Evidence from Bangladesh," Journal of Economics and Financial Analysis, Tripal Publishing House, vol. 4(2), pages 45-61.
    19. Nabila Asghar & Samia Nasreen & Hafeez ur Rehman, 2012. "Relationship between FDI and Economic Growth in Selected Asian Countries: A Panel Data Analysis," Review of Economics & Finance, Better Advances Press, Canada, vol. 2, pages 84-96, February.
    20. Ji Uk Kim, 2008. "Economic Growth and Technology Diffusion in Developing Countries," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 24, pages 413-424.
    21. Hinh T. Dinh & Thomas G. Rawski & Ali Zafar & Lihong Wang & Eleonora Mavroeidi, 2013. "Tales from the Development Frontier : How China and Other Countries Harness Light Manufacturing to Create Jobs and Prosperity," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15763.
    22. Trang Thi-Huyen Dinh & Duc Hong Vo & Anh The Vo & Thang Cong Nguyen, 2019. "Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in the Short Run and Long Run: Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-11, November.

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    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business

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