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Emerging economies' attraction of foreign direct investment

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  • Groh, Alexander Peter
  • Wich, Matthias

Abstract

This paper uses a composite measure to examine why some countries attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) than others. The measure considers all identified, measurable, and comparable socioeconomic aspects that affect FDI decisions on an aggregated country level. As a result, we can rank 127 countries with respect to their FDI attraction. The measure allows detailed strength and weakness analyses and enhances the discussion of why FDI flows are concentrated in advanced economies. Additionally, the findings reveal the areas in which emerging countries should improve in order to narrow existing gaps. Our robustness checks indicate that the composite measure accurately tracks real FDI activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Groh, Alexander Peter & Wich, Matthias, 2012. "Emerging economies' attraction of foreign direct investment," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 210-229.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:13:y:2012:i:2:p:210-229
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2012.03.005
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    2. Guglielmo Maria Caporale & Carlos Pestana Barros & Bruno Damasio, 2013. "Foreign direct investment in the Asian economies," NCID Working Papers 10/2013, Navarra Center for International Development, University of Navarra.
    3. Aymen A. Mohib & Conor Carroll, 2024. "Nation branding as a tool to attract foreign direct investments: a case study of Qatar," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(3), pages 363-377, September.
    4. Hong Hiep Hoang & Michaël Goujon, 2018. "Determinants of Intra-Region and Extra-Region Foreign Direct Investment Inflow in ASEAN: A Spatial Econometric Analysis," Post-Print hal-01918889, HAL.
    5. Kayalvizhi, P.N. & Thenmozhi, M., 2018. "Does quality of innovation, culture and governance drive FDI?: Evidence from emerging markets," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 175-191.
    6. Sibanjan Mishra, 2016. "Macro-economic factors and foreign direct investment in India: a Toda Yamamoto causality approach," International Journal of Economics and Business Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 195-208.
    7. Liu, Kelly & Daly, Kevin & Varua, Maria Estela, 2014. "Analysing China's foreign direct investment in manufacturing from a high–low technology perspective," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 82-95.
    8. Dell'Anno, Roberto & Strat, Vasile Alecsandru, 2018. "The potential of the EU economies in attracting FDI – A composite index based approach," MPRA Paper 93384, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Mustafa Sakr & Andre Jordaan, 2016. "Emerging Multinational Corporations: Theoretical and Conceptual Framework," Working Papers 201604, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    10. Mori Kogid & Jaratin Lily & Rozilee Asid & James M. Alin & Dullah Mulok, 2022. "Volatility spillover and dynamic co-movement of foreign direct investment between Malaysia and China and developed countries," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 131-148, February.
    11. Cumming, Douglas & Zhang, Yelin, 2016. "Alternative investments in emerging markets: A review and new trends," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 1-23.
    12. Vianna, Andre C. & Mollick, Andre V., 2018. "Institutions: Key variable for economic development in Latin America," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 42-58.
    13. Moralles, Herick Fernando & Moreno, Rosina, 2020. "FDI productivity spillovers and absorptive capacity in Brazilian firms: A threshold regression analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 257-272.
    14. Tien-Chin Wang & Chia-Nan Wang & Xuan Huynh Nguyen, 2016. "Evaluating the Influence of Criteria to Attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Develop Supporting Industries in Vietnam by Utilizing Fuzzy Preference Relations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-14, May.
    15. Luigi Lannutti, 0000. "The role of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) regulations in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)," Proceedings of International Academic Conferences 14216212, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
    16. Nur Feriyanto, 2015. "Dominant Economic Sectors in Kulonprogo, Gunungkidul, and Bantul Regencies in Yogyakarta Special Province," Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, Universitas Islam Indonesia, vol. 7(2), pages 93-106, April.
    17. Niccolò Pisani & Ans Kolk & Václav Ocelík & Ganling Wu, 2019. "Does it pay for cities to be green? An investigation of FDI inflows and environmental sustainability," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 2(1), pages 62-85, March.
    18. Al Amin Biswas & A. H. M. Shahriar & Mohammad Jahangir Alam & Ruhul Kuddus & Uttam Golder & Mita Rani Paul, 2023. "Rethinking FDI Policy in Bangladesh: An Asymmetric Approach to Globalization, Population, and Trade," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 13(6), pages 168-176, November.
    19. International Monetary Fund, 2013. "Uruguay: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2013/109, International Monetary Fund.
    20. Marie-Line Duboz & Nathalie Kroichvili & Julie Le Gallo, 2016. "Do Foreign Investors’ Location Determinants in Service Functions Differ According to Sectors? An Empirical Analysis of EU for 1997 to 2011," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 39(4), pages 417-456, October.
    21. Suzuki, Keishun, 2014. "Southern Innovation and Foreign Direct Investment," MPRA Paper 57054, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Nnadi, Matthias & Soobaroyen, Teerooven, 2015. "International financial reporting standards and foreign direct investment: The case of Africa," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 228-238.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI; Economic comparison; Emerging markets; Composite measure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries
    • P52 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Studies of Particular Economies
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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