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Asymmetric Effects of Corruption on FDI: Evidence from Swedish Multinational Firms

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Listed:
  • Katariina Nilsson Hakkala

    (Helsinki School of Economics and the Government Institute for Economic Research (VATT))

  • Pehr-Johan Norbäck

    (Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Stockholm)

  • Helena Svaleryd

    (Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Stockholm)

Abstract

We examine the effect of corruption on foreign direct investment (FDI). Starting out from the theory of FDI, we show that corruption can have different effects on horizontal investments, which are primarily aimed at sales to the local market, compared with vertical investments, which are made to access lower factor costs for export sales. Using Swedish firm-level data, we find that corruption reduces the probability that a firm will invest in a country. Moreover, when studying the different types of investments, we find that horizontal investments, measured by affiliate local sales, are deterred by corruption to a larger extent than are vertical investments. We are also able to establish a causal effect of corruption on FDI. Copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Katariina Nilsson Hakkala & Pehr-Johan Norbäck & Helena Svaleryd, 2008. "Asymmetric Effects of Corruption on FDI: Evidence from Swedish Multinational Firms," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 90(4), pages 627-642, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:90:y:2008:i:4:p:627-642
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • 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

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