IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i20p8749-d432541.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing Sustainable Foreign Direct Investment Performance in Malaysia: A Comparison on Policy Makers and Investor Perceptions

Author

Listed:
  • Pick-Soon Ling

    (School of Business and Management, University College of Technology Sarawak, Sibu 96000, Sarawak, Malaysia
    Faculty of Economics and Management, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Ming K. Lim

    (Centre for Business in Society, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK)

  • Ming-Lang Tseng

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
    Institute of Innovation and Circular Economy, Asia University, Taichung City 41354, Taiwan
    Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan)

Abstract

Sustainable foreign direct investment (SFDI) contributes to the development of the economic, environmental, and social aspects in rational governance practices in Malaysia. Prior studies lack the integration and synthesis of the SFDI attributes from the policymakers and foreign investors’ perceptions. These attributes are measured through the qualitative information and subjective perceptions and need to transform into comparable values. The fuzzy Delphi method is applied to identify the valid set of SFDI attributes and confirms the validity and reliability of these attributes. Moreover, prior studies have not examined the importance and performance of those valid attributes in qualitative information. The fuzzy importance and performance analysis is proposed to assess the attributes’ importance and performance level. The results show that financial, macroeconomic, and institutional policy aspects are among the most important SFDI attributes, together with environmental and social aspects. This study identifies the discrepancies between policymakers and foreign investors and suggests that the financial aspect is the priority of foreign investors that needs to be concentrated for improvements; meanwhile, the institutional and policies and social aspects in performance level are presented as a big contradistinction. The theoretical and policy implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Pick-Soon Ling & Ming K. Lim & Ming-Lang Tseng, 2020. "Assessing Sustainable Foreign Direct Investment Performance in Malaysia: A Comparison on Policy Makers and Investor Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-38, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8749-:d:432541
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/20/8749/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/20/8749/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Albulescu, Claudiu Tiberiu & Ionescu, Adrian Marius, 2018. "The long-run impact of monetary policy uncertainty and banking stability on inward FDI in EU countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 72-81.
    2. Keeley, Alexander Ryota & Matsumoto, Ken’ichi, 2018. "Relative significance of determinants of foreign direct investment in wind and solar energy in developing countries – AHP analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 337-348.
    3. Alfalih, Abdullah Abdulmohsen & Bel Hadj, Tarek, 2020. "Foreign direct investment determinants in an oil abundant host country: Short and long-run approach for Saudi Arabia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Elheddad, Mohamed M., 2018. "What determines FDI inflow to MENA countries? Empirical study on Gulf countries: Sectoral level analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 332-339.
    5. Cristina Jude & Monica Ioana Pop Silaghi, 2016. "Employment Effects of Foreign Direct Investment: New evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 145, pages 32-49.
    6. 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.
    7. Sirin, Selahattin Murat, 2017. "Foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Turkish power sector: A discussion on investments, opportunities and risks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1367-1377.
    8. Gökçer Özgür & Ceyhun Elgin & Adem Y. Elveren, 2021. "Is informality a barrier to sustainable development?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 45-65, January.
    9. Yang, Jiao-Hui & Wang, Wei & Wang, Kai-Li & Yeh, Chung-Ying, 2018. "Capital intensity, natural resources, and institutional risk preferences in Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 259-272.
    10. Mourao, Paulo Reis, 2018. "What is China seeking from Africa? An analysis of the economic and political determinants of Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment based on Stochastic Frontier Models," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 258-268.
    11. Falk, Martin, 2016. "A gravity model of foreign direct investment in the hospitality industry," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 225-237.
    12. Kinuthia, Bethuel Kinyanjui & Murshed, Syed Mansoob, 2015. "FDI determinants: Kenya and Malaysia compared," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 388-400.
    13. Tseng, Ming-Lang & Wu, Kuo-Jui & Chiu, Anthony SF. & Lim, Ming K. & Tan, Kimhua, 2018. "Service innovation in sustainable product service systems: Improving performance under linguistic preferences," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 414-425.
    14. John H Dunning, 1980. "Towards an Eclectic Theory of International Production: Some Empirical Tests," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 11(1), pages 9-31, March.
    15. Zhang, Huiying & Yang, Xiaohui, 2016. "Trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights agreements and the upsurge in foreign direct investment in developing countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 91-99.
    16. Ramírez-Alesón, Marisa & Fleta-Asín, Jorge, 2016. "Is the Importance of Location Factors Different Depending on the Degree of Development of the Country?," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 29-43.
    17. Bob Giddings & Bill Hopwood & Geoff O'Brien, 2002. "Environment, economy and society: fitting them together into sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 10(4), pages 187-196.
    18. Kayalvizhi, P.N. & Thenmozhi, M., 2018. "Does quality of innovation, culture and governance drive FDI?: Evidence from emerging markets," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 175-191.
    19. Cai, Huifen & Boateng, Agyenim & Guney, Yilmaz, 2019. "Host country institutions and firm-level R&D influences: An analysis of European Union FDI in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 311-326.
    20. Polyxeni, Kechagia & Theodore, Metaxas, 2019. "An empirical investigation of FDI inflows in developing economies: Terrorism as a determinant factor," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    21. Tomohara, Akinori, 2017. "Does immigration crowd out foreign direct investment inflows? Tradeoff between contemporaneous FDI-immigration substitution and ethnic network externalities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 40-47.
    22. Aziz, Omar Ghazy, 2018. "Institutional quality and FDI inflows in Arab economies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 111-123.
    23. Lee, Minsoo & Alba, Joseph D. & Park, Donghyun, 2018. "Intellectual property rights, informal economy, and FDI into developing countries," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 1067-1081.
    24. Bailey, Nicholas, 2018. "Exploring the relationship between institutional factors and FDI attractiveness: A meta-analytic review," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 139-148.
    25. Economou, Fotini, 2019. "Economic freedom and asymmetric crisis effects on FDI inflows: The case of four South European economies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 114-126.
    26. Luisa R. Blanco & Isabel Ruiz & Rossitza B. Wooster, 2019. "The effect of violent crime on sector-specific FDI in Latin America," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(4), pages 420-434, October.
    27. Giammanco, Maria Daniela & Gitto, Lara, 2019. "Health expenditure and FDI in Europe," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 255-267.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mingyuan Guo & Chendi Zheng, 2021. "Foreign Ownership and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Chao Wang & Jing Ning & Xiaohan Zhang, 2021. "International Investment and Indigenous Peoples’ Environment: A Survey of ISDS Cases from 2000 to 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.

    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. Ștefan Cristian Gherghina & Liliana Nicoleta Simionescu & Oana Simona Hudea, 2019. "Exploring Foreign Direct Investment–Economic Growth Nexus—Empirical Evidence from Central and Eastern European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-33, September.
    2. Chen, Hong & Gangopadhyay, Partha & Singh, Baljeet & Chen, Kairan, 2023. "What motivates Chinese multinational firms to invest in Asia? Poor institutions versus rich infrastructures of a host country," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    3. Amar Anwar & Ichiro Iwasaki, 2022. "Institutions and FDI from BRICS countries: a meta-analytic review," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 417-468, July.
    4. Niaz Morshed & Mohammad Razib Hossain, 2022. "Causality analysis of the determinants of FDI in Bangladesh: fresh evidence from VAR, VECM and Granger causality approach," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(7), pages 1-28, July.
    5. Wencong Lu & Ikboljon Kasimov & Ibrokhim Karimov & Yakhyobek Abdullaev, 2020. "Foreign Direct Investment, Natural Resources, Economic Freedom, and Sea-Access: Evidence from the Commonwealth of Independent States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    6. Nathapornpan Piyaareekul Uttama & Rapipong Promnart, 2022. "Shadow economy and the efficiency of FDI inflow: the case of ASEAN economies," International Journal of Economics and Business Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 23(2), pages 136-155.
    7. Dimitrova, Anna & Triki, Dora & Valentino, Alfredo, 2022. "The effects of business- and non-business-targeting terrorism on FDI to the MENA region: The moderating role of political regime," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    8. Tan, Man & Yang, Dengyu & Yang, Qijing, 2023. "Institutional quality, asset specificity, and foreign direct investment," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    9. Mohamed Ibrahim Mugableh, 2021. "An Examination Into the Causal Links Among Inward FDI Determinants: Empirical Evidence From Jordan," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 12(2), pages 195-201, April.
    10. Abdulmohsen Alfalih, Abdullah & Bel Hadj, Tarek, 2021. "Asymmetric effects of foreign direct investment on employment in an oil producing country: Do human capital, institutions and oil rents matter?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    11. Federico Carril-Caccia & Juliette Milgram-Baleix & Jordi Paniagua, 2019. "Foreign Direct Investment in oil-abundant countries: The role of institutions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, April.
    12. Niccolò Pisani & Ans Kolk & Václav Ocelík & Ganling Wu, 2019. "Does it pay for cities to be green? An investigation of FDI inflows and environmental sustainability," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 2(1), pages 62-85, March.
    13. Andrew G Ross & Maktoba Omar & Anqi Xu & Samikshya Pandey, 2019. "The impact of institutional quality on Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 34(6), pages 572-588, September.
    14. Oliver E. Ogbonna & Jonathan E. Ogbuabor & Charles O. Manasseh & Davidmac O. Ekeocha, 2022. "Global uncertainty, economic governance institutions and foreign direct investment inflow in Africa," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 2111-2136, November.
    15. Tong, Tong & Chen, Xiaoyue & Singh, Tarlok & Li, Bin, 2022. "Corporate governance and the outward foreign direct investment: Firm-level evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 962-980.
    16. Mehmet Pinar & Thanasis Stengos, 2021. "Democracy in the neighborhood and foreign direct investment," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 449-477, February.
    17. Economou, Fotini, 2019. "Economic freedom and asymmetric crisis effects on FDI inflows: The case of four South European economies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 114-126.
    18. Xinlei Qian & Minghao Sun & Minjie Pan & Weiyong Zou & Guoxiang Li, 2023. "Intellectual property rights policy and foreign direct investment: A quasi‐natural experiment from China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(4), pages 2378-2392, June.
    19. Rehman, Faheem Ur & Khan, Muhammad Asif & Khan, Muhammad Atif & Pervaiz, Khansa & Liaqat, Idrees, 2020. "The causal, linear and nonlinear nexus between sectoral FDI and infrastructure in Pakistan: Using a new global infrastructure index," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    20. James, Barclay E. & Sawant, Rajeev J. & Bendickson, Joshua S., 2020. "Emerging market multinationals’ firm-specific advantages, institutional distance, and foreign acquisition location choice," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).

    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:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:20:p:8749-:d:432541. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.