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“A panel data analysis of FDI and informal labor markets”

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  • Antonio Baez

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona)

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to examine whether informal labor markets affect the flows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and also whether this effect is similar in developed and developing countries. With this aim, different public data sources, such as the World Bank (WB), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) are used, and panel econometric models are estimated for a sample of 65 countries over a 14 year period (1996-2009). In addition, this paper uses a dynamic model as an extension of the analysis to establish whether such an effect exists and what its indicators and significance may be. While the results shows that informal labor markets are significant and do positively affect the flow of FDI, these effects are felt up to a certain level of informality, above which the effect becomes negative. The results are similar for developed and developing countries and are robust to several checks.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Baez, 2014. "“A panel data analysis of FDI and informal labor markets”," AQR Working Papers 201402, University of Barcelona, Regional Quantitative Analysis Group, revised Feb 2014.
    • Handle: RePEc:aqr:wpaper:201402
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    File URL: http://www.ub.edu/irea/working_papers/2014/201404.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. T. Bhavan, 2023. "The Nexus Between Foreign Direct Investment, Informal and Formal Sectors in Sri Lanka," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 24(1), pages 7-19, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign Direct Investment; Informal labor markets; Institutions. JEL classification: F16; F23; J8; M5;
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