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The motives for inward FDI into Sub-Saharan African countries

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  • Okafor, Godwin
  • Piesse, Jenifer
  • Webster, Allan

Abstract

This study contributes to the FDI literature by investigating the impact of all four locational motives of FDI in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries for the period 1996–2010. To achieve this aim, panel data techniques (pooled OLS, fixed effects and GMM) were employed on a sample of SSA countries. The empirical results showed that efficiency and strategic asset seeking factors influenced FDI activities in SSA for the period investigated. Market size also influenced FDI however this was less robust to specifications. Surprisingly, FDI in SSA was not resource seeking. Furthermore, a statistical test confirmed structural and behavioural differences in FDI determinants between SSA sub-regional groups and when analysed separately, FDI in West and Central SSA was market and efficiency seeking while FDI in South and East Africa was best explained by efficiency seeking factors. Based on the empirical findings, a number of policy implications were derived. These policy implications include further implementation of policies targeted at increasing and sustaining trade liberalisation and trade diversification, control of corruption, credible upgrades and productive investments in infrastructure, and support for human capital accumulation as FDI is increasingly directed towards R&D, innovation and strategic asset activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Okafor, Godwin & Piesse, Jenifer & Webster, Allan, 2015. "The motives for inward FDI into Sub-Saharan African countries," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 875-890.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:37:y:2015:i:5:p:875-890
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2015.07.003
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    2. Gossel, Sean Joss, 2018. "FDI, democracy and corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 647-662.
    3. Teixeira, Aurora A.C. & Forte, Rosa & Assunção, Susana, 2017. "Do countries' endowments of non-renewable energy resources matter for FDI attraction? A panel data analysis of 125 countries over the period 1995–2012," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 57-71.
    4. Shah, Mumtaz Hussain, 2016. "The Effect of Macroeconomic Stability on Inward FDI in African Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 82014, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Bouzid,Bechir Naier & Toumi,Sofiene, 2020. "The Determinants of Regional Foreign Direct Investment and Its Spatial Dependence : Evidence from Tunisia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9484, The World Bank.
    6. Shah, Mumtaz Hussain & Lala, Gule, 2017. "Autocracy, Democracy and FDI inflows in Asian Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 107248, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2020. "Trade Openness and Diversification of External Financial Flows for Development: An Empirical Analysis," South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, , vol. 9(1), pages 22-57, June.
    8. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2019. "Trade Policy Space and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows," EconStor Preprints 196149, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Ofori, Isaac K. & Dossou, Marcel A.M. & Asongu, Simplice A. & Armah, Mark K., 2023. "Bridging Africa’s income inequality gap: How relevant is China’s outward FDI to Africa?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    10. Edward Nketiah-Amponsah & Bernard Sarpong, 2019. "Effect of Infrastructure and Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 11(3), pages 183-201, September.
    11. Leonce Ndikumana & Mare Sarr, 2019. "Capital Flight, Foreign Direct Investment and Natural Resources in Africa," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2019-12, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    12. Tanguy Bonnet, 2023. "Foreign Direct Investment and Strategic Minerals," EconomiX Working Papers 2023-7, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    13. Yassin Elshain Yahia & Haiyun Liu & Abdalla Sirag & Sayyed Sadaqat Hussain Shah, 2020. "The Impacts of Intra-Trade on Industrialization: Evidence from COMESA," Asian Development Policy Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(2), pages 75-101, June.
    14. Ndikumana, Léonce & Sarr, Mare, 2019. "Capital flight, foreign direct investment and natural resources in Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    15. Achouak Barguellil, 2021. "The Asymmetric Indirect Impact of Real Exchange Rate on Economic Growth through Foreign Trade: An Asymmetric ARDL Panel Model," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 11(8), pages 658-671, August.
    16. Owusu-Agyei, Samuel & Okafor, Godwin & Chijoke-Mgbame, Aruoriwo Marian & Ohalehi, Paschal & Hasan, Fakhrul, 2020. "Internet adoption and financial development in sub-Saharan Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    17. Kis, Katalin, 2017. "A Kelet-afrikai Közösség belső kereskedelmére ható tényezők [Factors determining the intra-regional trade of the East African Community]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(9), pages 943-969.
    18. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2022. "Aid for Trade, export product diversification, and foreign direct investment," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 534-561, February.
    19. Calabrese, Giuseppe Giulio & Manello, Alessandro, 2018. "Firm internationalization and performance: Evidence for designing policies," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 1221-1242.
    20. Edward Nketiah-Amponsah & Bernard Sarpong, 2020. "Ease of Doing Business and Foreign Direct Investment: Case of Sub-Saharan Africa," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 26(3), pages 209-223, August.
    21. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon & Harish Iyer, 2017. "Structural Economic Vulnerability, Trade Policy and FDI Inflows," Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(01), pages 1-35, February.
    22. Brun, Jean-François & Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2017. "Does trade openness contribute to driving financing flows for development?," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2017-06, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    23. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2017. "Multilateral Trade Liberalisation and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 66-84, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign direct investment; Market seeking; Resource seeking; Efficiency seeking; Strategic asset seeking;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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