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The effects of the IMF on expropriation of foreign firms

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  • Glen Biglaiser
  • Hoon Lee
  • Joseph Staats

Abstract

This paper seeks to explain the determinants of foreign expropriation in the developing world. We argue that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helps to reduce the likelihood of nationalization because of the direct leverage the Fund holds over borrowers, especially as expropriation is a blatant violation of international property rights. Using expropriation data from 1961 to 2006, and several different measures for the Fund, we find that countries under IMF agreements are less likely to nationalize foreign firms. We also show that the Fund’s influence is greatest when the IMF loan represents a larger share of the borrower country’s gross domestic product (GDP) as well as in countries with weaker political institutions. The takeaway is that IMF continues to influence policy choices in the developing world. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Glen Biglaiser & Hoon Lee & Joseph Staats, 2016. "The effects of the IMF on expropriation of foreign firms," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:revint:v:11:y:2016:i:1:p:1-23
    DOI: 10.1007/s11558-015-9226-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ramin Dadasov & Carsten Hefeker & Oliver Lorz, 2017. "Natural resource extraction, corruption, and expropriation," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 153(4), pages 809-832, November.
    2. Leslie Johns & Rachel L. Wellhausen, 2021. "The price of doing business: Why replaceable foreign firms get worse government treatment," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 209-243, July.
    3. Glen Biglaiser & Hoon Lee & Joseph L Staats, 2017. "The effects of political and legal constraints on expropriation in natural resource and manufacturing sectors," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 20(4), pages 311-333, December.
    4. Nathan M. Jensen & Noel P. Johnston & Chia-yi Lee & Hadi Sahin, 2020. "Crisis and contract breach: The domestic and international determinants of expropriation," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 869-898, October.
    5. Elena V McLean & Jeheung Ryu & Taehee Whang, 2024. "The effect of economic coercion on companies’ foreign direct investment decisions: Evidence from sanctions against Russia," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 41(4), pages 438-462, July.
    6. Nicole Janz & Noel Johnston & Paasha Mahdavi, 2022. "Expropriation and human rights: does the seizure of FDI signal wider repression?," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 847-875, October.

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    Keywords

    Expropriation; IMF; Political constraints; BITs; WTO/GATT; F5;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F5 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy

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