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Production versus distribution-oriented FDI

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  • Jörn Kleinert
  • Farid Toubal

Abstract

The business literature has long recognized the importance of multinationals’ distribution networks. The empirical analysis of distribution-oriented FDI has, however, received little attention which is at least partly due to the lack of appropriate data. We present a slightly modified version of Helpman et al. (Am Econ Rev 94(1):300–316, 2004 ) that explicitly models the possibility for a multinational firm to export through its wholesale trade affiliate. We analyze the multinational firms’ choice between foreign production and foreign distribution. Our empirical analysis uses different discrete choice models and alternative specifications for several sub-samples of multinational firms. Our results show that the choice between distribution and production-oriented FDI is based on the trade-off between fixed and variable costs. Copyright Kiel Institute 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Jörn Kleinert & Farid Toubal, 2013. "Production versus distribution-oriented FDI," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 149(3), pages 423-442, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:149:y:2013:i:3:p:423-442
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-013-0158-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Yeboah, Samuel, 2023. "Navigating Global Markets: The Impact of FDI on Startups' Access to Insights, Networks, and Brand Visibility," MPRA Paper 118437, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 30 Aug 2023.
    2. Rafael Cezar & Octavio Escobar, 2015. "Institutional distance and foreign direct investment," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 151(4), pages 713-733, November.
    3. Anca D. Cristea & Daniel X. Nguyen, 2016. "Transfer Pricing by Multinational Firms: New Evidence from Foreign Firm Ownerships," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 8(3), pages 170-202, August.
    4. Jeff Luckstead & Stephen Devadoss & Xin Zhao, 2024. "Gravity trade model with firm heterogeneity and horizontal foreign direct investment," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 106(1), pages 206-225, January.
    5. Blonigen, Bruce A. & Cristea, Anca & Lee, Donghyun, 2020. "Evidence for the effect of monitoring costs on foreign direct investment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 601-617.
    6. Bruce A. Blonigen & Donghyun Lee, 2016. "Heterogeneous Frictional Costs Across Industries in Cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions," NBER Working Papers 22546, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Daunfeldt, Sven-Olov & Engberg, Erik & Halvarsson, Daniel & Kokko, Ari & Tingvall, Patrik, 2019. "Wholesale firms: A catalyst for Swedish exports?," Ratio Working Papers 328, The Ratio Institute.
    8. David Kucera & Marco Principi, 2014. "Democracy and foreign direct investment at the industry level: evidence for US multinationals," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 150(3), pages 595-617, August.
    9. Yeboah, Samuel, 2023. "Navigating Global Markets: The Impact of FDI on Startups' Access to Insights, Networks, and Brand Visibility," MPRA Paper 118434, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 30 Aug 2023.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multinational firms; Wholesale sales; Discrete choice; F23; F12; C25;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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