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The sensitivity of U.S. multinational enterprises to political and macroeconomic uncertainty: A sectoral analysis

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  • Desbordes, Rodolphe

Abstract

This paper confronts two alternative approaches for explaining U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) pattern in developing countries. According to the real options (RO) approach, FDI in capital-intensive industries should be particularly deterred by political and macroeconomic uncertainty. On the other hand, the supply chain risk management (SCRM) approach puts forward that multinational enterprises in vertically integrated industries are unlikely to locate their foreign activities in risky countries. Thanks to the use of sectoral data, it is demonstrated that the SCRM approach explains much better the pattern of U.S. FDI in developing countries than the RO approach.

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  • Desbordes, Rodolphe, 2007. "The sensitivity of U.S. multinational enterprises to political and macroeconomic uncertainty: A sectoral analysis," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 732-750, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:16:y:2007:i:6:p:732-750
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    2. Valeria Arza & Elisa Giuliani & Federica Nieri, 2019. "DRIFTING ON A CALMA CHICHA AFTER COUNTLESS STORMS: How macroeconomic uncertainty affects firms' de cisions to innovate in emerging countries," Discussion Papers 2019/251, Dipartimento di Economia e Management (DEM), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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    6. Wang, Chengqi & Hong, Junjie & Kafouros, Mario & Boateng, Agyenim, 2012. "What drives outward FDI of Chinese firms? Testing the explanatory power of three theoretical frameworks," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 425-438.
    7. Stoian, Carmen & Filippaios, Fragkiskos, 2008. "Dunning's eclectic paradigm: A holistic, yet context specific framework for analysing the determinants of outward FDI: Evidence from international Greek investments," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 349-367, June.
    8. Wooton, Ian & Darby, Julia & Desbordes, Rodolphe, 2009. "Does Public Governance Always Matter? How Experience of Poor Institutional Quality Influences FDI to the South," CEPR Discussion Papers 7533, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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    10. Tailan Chi & Jing Li & Lenos G Trigeorgis & Andrianos E Tsekrekos, 2019. "Real options theory in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 525-553, June.
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