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Foreign Direct Investment as a Signal

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  • Koska, Onur A.
  • Long, Ngo Van
  • Staehler, Frank

Abstract

This paper models competition among multinational firms in an environment of firm heterogeneity, incomplete cost information and strategic interaction. In this context, FDI serves as a signal of productivity: when firms sort into exporters and multinationals, they also show whether they have low or high productivity. We show that the signaling effect of FDI increases the FDI incentive as firms would like to avoid sending a low productivity signal.

Suggested Citation

  • Koska, Onur A. & Long, Ngo Van & Staehler, Frank, 2015. "Foreign Direct Investment as a Signal," MPRA Paper 68025, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:68025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Onur A. Koska, 2016. "A Consumer-Surplus Standard in Merger Approvals, Foreign Direct Investment, and Welfare," ERC Working Papers 1612, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Oct 2016.
    2. Koska, Onur A., 2019. "Gains from multinational competition for cross-border firm acquisition," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 13, pages 1-19.
    3. Onur A. Koska, 2019. "A consumer-surplus standard in foreign acquisitions, foreign direct investment, and welfare," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 155(1), pages 149-179, February.
    4. John Gilbert & Onur A. Koska & Reza Oladi, 2022. "International trade, differentiated goods, and strategic asymmetry," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 88(3), pages 1178-1198, January.
    5. Lin, Wen-Ting & Lee, Chia-Ling & Ahlstrom, David, 2023. "Internationalization and breaking the glass ceiling: An institutional perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(1).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign Direct Investment; Trade; Firm Heterogeneity; Incomplete Information; Signaling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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