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A Review of the Empirical Literature on FDI Determinants

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Author Info
Bruce A. Blonigen
Abstract

This paper surveys the recent burgeoning literature that empirically examines the foreign direct investment (FDI) decisions of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the resulting aggregate location of FDI across the world. The contribution of the paper is to evaluate what we can say with relative confidence about FDI as a profession, given the evidence, and what we cannot have much confidence in at this point. Suggestions are made for future research directions.

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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number 11299.

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Date of creation: May 2005
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Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:11299

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
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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