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Productivity and Taxes as Drivers of FDI

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  • Assaf Razin
  • Efraim Sadka

Abstract

We develop a framework in which the host country productivity has a positive effect on the intensive margin (the size of FDI flows), but only an ambiguous effect on the extensive margin (the likelihood of FDI flows to occur). The source-country productivity has a negative effect on the extensive margin. An increase in the host-country corporate tax rate reduces the actual FDI flows the likelihood of such flows to occur. An increase in the source-country corporate tax rate reduces the likelihood of FDI flows. These predictions are confronted with Data on FDI flows, drawn from the International Direct Investment dataset (Source OECD), covering the bilateral FDI flows among 18 OECD countries over the period 1987 to 2003. We find some support for the main predictions of the model.

Suggested Citation

  • Assaf Razin & Efraim Sadka, 2007. "Productivity and Taxes as Drivers of FDI," NBER Working Papers 13094, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:13094
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian Keuschnigg, 2008. "Exports, foreign direct investment, and the costs of corporate taxation," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 15(4), pages 460-477, August.
    2. Amat Adarov & Mahdi Ghodsi, 2023. "Heterogeneous effects of nontariff measures on cross‐border investments: Bilateral firm‐level analysis," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 158-179, February.
    3. Mariam Camarero & Laura Montolio & Cecilio Tamarit, 2019. "Determinants of German outward FDI: variable selection using Bayesian statistical," Working Papers 1906, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
    4. Thomas Goda & Sebastián Ballesteros,, 2020. "The impact of effective corporate tax rates on investment," Documentos de Trabajo de Valor Público 18212, Universidad EAFIT.
    5. Aras Zirgulis, 2014. "Is International Capital Tax Competition Fueled by the Quest for Increased Productivity?," Proceedings of International Academic Conferences 0702435, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
    6. Liberini, Federica, 2014. "Corporate Taxes and the Growth of the Firm," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1042, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    7. Eicher, Theo S. & Helfman, Lindy & Lenkoski, Alex, 2012. "Robust FDI determinants: Bayesian Model Averaging in the presence of selection bias," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 637-651.
    8. Kellard, Neil M. & Kontonikas, Alexandros & Lamla, Michael J. & Maiani, Stefano & Wood, Geoffrey, 2022. "Risk, financial stability and FDI," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    9. Aras Zirgulis, 2014. "Is International Capital Tax Competition Fueled by the Quest for Increased Productivity?," International Journal of Economic Sciences, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2014(4), pages 99-116.
    10. Libich, Jan & Nguyen, Dat Thanh & Stehlík, Petr, 2015. "Monetary exit and fiscal spillovers," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 40(PA), pages 184-206.
    11. Martina Lawless, 2013. "Do Complicated Tax Systems Prevent Foreign Direct Investment?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 80(317), pages 1-22, January.
    12. Camarero, Mariam & Montolio, Laura & Tamarit, Cecilio, 2019. "What drives German foreign direct investment? New evidence using Bayesian statistical techniques," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 326-345.

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    JEL classification:

    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance

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