IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/jintdv/v36y2024i1p541-558.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Why foreign agricultural investment fails? Five lessons from Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Logan Cochrane
  • Eric P. H. Li
  • Melisew Dejene
  • M. Mustahid Husain

Abstract

In the past two decades, foreign direct investment (FDI) in emerging economies has witnessed substantial growth in the agricultural sector. Globally, more than a quarter of these investments have failed. Beyond case studies, the factors that contribute to these failures have been subject to limited research. To address this research gap, this article draws on a unique data set of 106 investments in Ethiopia, from which failures were identified and detailed case studies analysed to identify the causes of failure. Drawing on the literature on institutional voids, our analysis shows that the high rates of failure in the agricultural sector are often caused by insufficient planning at the proposal stage, assumptions about the availability of expertise, socio‐political and environmental risks, insufficient financing and/or a changing investment landscape and underestimation and/or misunderstanding regarding the limits of extractive approaches. These lessons suggest that while FDI in the agricultural sector has potential, the working approaches require significant transformation. We offer a set of strategic recommendations to mitigate the risk of investment failure in agricultural investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Logan Cochrane & Eric P. H. Li & Melisew Dejene & M. Mustahid Husain, 2024. "Why foreign agricultural investment fails? Five lessons from Ethiopia," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(1), pages 541-558, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:36:y:2024:i:1:p:541-558
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.3827
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3827
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/jid.3827?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cheng Gao & Tiona Zuzul & Geoffrey Jones & Tarun Khanna, 2017. "Overcoming Institutional Voids: A Reputation-Based View of Long-Run Survival," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(11), pages 2147-2167, November.
    2. Hongxin Zhao & Jieqiong Ma & Jie Yang, 2017. "30 Years of Research on Entry Mode and Performance Relationship: A Meta-Analytical Review," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(5), pages 653-682, October.
    3. Tarun Khanna & Jan W. Rivkin, 2001. "Estimating the performance effects of business groups in emerging markets," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 45-74, January.
    4. Don Gunasekera & Yiyong Cai & David Newth, 2015. "Effects of foreign direct investment in African agriculture," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(2), pages 167-184, May.
    5. Sotiris Blanas & Adnan Seric & Christian Viegelahn, 2019. "Job Quality, FDI and Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Firm-Level Data," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(5), pages 1287-1317, December.
    6. Bruce A. Blonigen & Jeremy Piger, 2019. "Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Foreign Direct Investment, chapter 1, pages 3-54, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    7. Beata S. Javorcik, 2015. "Does FDI Bring Good Jobs to Host Countries?," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 30(1), pages 74-94.
    8. Jing Li & Klaus E Meyer & Hua Zhang & Yuan Ding, 2018. "Diplomatic and corporate networks: Bridges to foreign locations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(6), pages 659-683, August.
    9. Kristin Brandl & Izzet Darendeli & Ram Mudambi, 2019. "Foreign actors and intellectual property protection regulations in developing countries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(5), pages 826-846, July.
    10. John Hua Fan & Adrian Fernandez‐Perez & Ana‐Maria Fuertes & Joëlle Miffre, 2020. "Speculative pressure," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(4), pages 575-597, April.
    11. Jonathan Doh & Suzana Rodrigues & Ayse Saka-Helmhout & Mona Makhija, 2017. "International business responses to institutional voids," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(3), pages 293-307, April.
    12. Don Gunasekera & Yiyong Cai & David Newth, 2015. "Effects of foreign direct investment in African agriculture," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(2), pages 167-184, May.
    13. Benedikt Kamski, 2019. "Water, sugar, and growth: the practical effects of a ‘failed’ development intervention in the southwestern lowlands of Ethiopia," Journal of Eastern African Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 621-641, October.
    14. Brian C Pinkham & Mike W Peng, 2017. "Overcoming institutional voids via arbitration," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(3), pages 344-359, April.
    15. Addiswork Tilahun Teklemariam & Logan Cochrane, 2021. "The Rush to the Peripheries: Land Rights and Tenure Security in Peri-Urban Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, February.
    16. Logan Cochrane & Danielle D. Legault, 2020. "The Rush for Land and Agricultural Investment in Ethiopia: What We Know and What We Are Missing," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-13, May.
    17. Klaus E. Meyer & Saul Estrin & Sumon Kumar Bhaumik & Mike W. Peng, 2009. "Institutions, resources, and entry strategies in emerging economies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 61-80, January.
    18. Gurdip Bakshi & Xiaohui Gao & Alberto G. Rossi, 2019. "Understanding the Sources of Risk Underlying the Cross Section of Commodity Returns," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(2), pages 619-641, February.
    19. Riera, Olivia & Swinnen, Johan, 2016. "Household level spillover effects from biofuels: Evidence from castor in Ethiopia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 55-65.
    20. Tom Lavers, 2016. "Agricultural Investment in Ethiopia: Undermining National Sovereignty or Tool for State Building?," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 47(5), pages 1078-1101, September.
    21. Michael A Sartor & Paul W Beamish, 2018. "Host market government corruption and the equity-based foreign entry strategies of multinational enterprises," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(3), pages 346-370, April.
    22. Tsegaye Moreda, 2017. "Large-scale land acquisitions, state authority and indigenous local communities: insights from Ethiopia," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 698-716, March.
    23. Degele Ergano & K. Rambabu, 2020. "Ethiopia’s FDI inflow from India and China: analysis of trends and determinants," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, December.
    24. Dell'Angelo, Jampel & Navas, Grettel & Witteman, Marga & D'Alisa, Giacomo & Scheidel, Arnim & Temper, Leah, 2021. "Commons grabbing and agribusiness: Violence, resistance and social mobilization," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    25. Keith D Brouthers, 2013. "A retrospective on: Institutional, cultural and transaction cost influences on entry mode choice and performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(1), pages 14-22, January.
    26. Keith D Brouthers, 2013. "Institutional, cultural and transaction cost influences on entry mode choice and performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(1), pages 1-13, January.
    27. Logan Cochrane & Y. Tamiru, 2016. "Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program: Power, Politics and Practice," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 649-665, July.
    28. Logan Cochrane & Yeshtila W. Bekele, 2018. "Contextualizing Narratives of Economic Growth and Navigating Problematic Data: Economic Trends in Ethiopia (1999–2017)," Economies, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-16, December.
    29. Fragkiskos Filippaios & Fatima Annan-Diab & Amir Hermidas & Charikleia Theodoraki, 2019. "Political governance, civil liberties, and human capital: Evaluating their effect on foreign direct investment in emerging and developing economies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(7), pages 1103-1129, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Boddewyn, Jean J. & Peng, Mike W., 2021. "Reciprocity and informal institutions in international market entry," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    2. Xu, Kai & Hitt, Michael A. & Brock, David & Pisano, Vincenzo & Huang, Lulu S.R., 2021. "Country institutional environments and international strategy: A review and analysis of the research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    3. Liedong, Tahiru Azaaviele & Peprah, Augustine Awuah & Amartey, Abednego Okoe & Rajwani, Tazeeb, 2020. "Institutional voids and firms' resource commitment in emerging markets: A review and future research agenda," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(3).
    4. Xanthippe Adamoglou & Dimitris Kyrkilis, 2020. "MNEs Entry Strategies through a Distance Framework: A New Perspective," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 70(3-4), pages 83-105, July-Dece.
    5. Seok Jin Ko, 2019. "The Differing Foreign Entry Mode Choices for Sales and Production Subsidiaries of Multinational Corporations in the Manufacturing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-18, July.
    6. Chenxi Wan & Carlos M. P. Sousa & Jorge Lengler & Qun Tan, 2023. "Entry Mode Choice: A Meta-Analysis of Antecedents and Outcomes," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 193-246, April.
    7. Liu, Yu & Maula, Markku, 2021. "Contextual status effects: The performance effects of host-country network status and regulatory institutions in cross-border venture capital," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(5).
    8. Irina Surdu & Kamel Mellahi & Keith Glaister, 2017. "Once bitten, not necessarily shy? Organisational learning prior experience effects on foreign market re-entry commitment decisions," John H Dunning Centre for International Business Discussion Papers jhd-dp2017-04, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    9. Hearn, Bruce, 2015. "Institutional influences on board composition of international joint venture firms listing on emerging stock exchanges: Evidence from Africa," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 205-219.
    10. Michael Nippa & Jeffrey J Reuer, 2019. "On the future of international joint venture research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 555-597, June.
    11. Khadija Straaten & Niccolò Pisani & Ans Kolk, 2020. "Unraveling the MNE wage premium," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(9), pages 1355-1390, December.
    12. Alaydi, Sharif & Buck, Trevor & Tang, Yee Kwan, 2021. "Strategic responses to extreme institutional challenges: An MNE case study in the Palestinian mobile phone sector," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    13. Claudio Giachetti & Giancarlo Manzi & Cinzia Colapinto, 2019. "Entry Mode Degree of Control, Firm Performance and Host Country Institutional Development: A Meta-Analysis," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 3-39, February.
    14. Fernando Moreira Silva & Mario Henrique Ogasavara & Renato Pereira, 2024. "Institutional distances and equity-based entry modes: a systematic literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 74(3), pages 1723-1790, September.
    15. Mike W. Peng & Sergey Lebedev & Cristina O. Vlas & Joyce C. Wang & Jason S. Shay, 2018. "The growth of the firm in (and out of) emerging economies," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 829-857, December.
    16. Simon Hartmann & Thomas Lindner & Jakob Müllner & Jonas Puck, 2022. "Beyond the nation-state: Anchoring supranational institutions in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(6), pages 1282-1306, August.
    17. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 0. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-39.
    18. Pei Sun & Jonathan P. Doh & Tazeeb Rajwani & Donald Siegel, 2021. "Navigating cross-border institutional complexity: A review and assessment of multinational nonmarket strategy research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(9), pages 1818-1853, December.
    19. Akbar, Yusaf & Balboni, Bernardo & Bortoluzzi, Guido & Dikova, Desislava & Tracogna, Andrea, 2018. "Disentangling resource and mode escalation in the context of emerging markets. Evidence from a sample of manufacturing SMEs," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 257-270.
    20. Sarianna M. Lundan & Jiatao Li, 2019. "Adjusting to and learning from institutional diversity: Toward a capability-building perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(1), pages 36-47, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:36:y:2024:i:1:p:541-558. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/5102/home .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.