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FDI Promotion through Bilateral Investment Treaties More Than a Bit

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  • Busse, Matthias
  • Königer, Jens
  • Nunnenkamp, Peter

Abstract

Policymakers in developing countries have increasingly pinned their hopes on bilateral investment treaties (BITs) in order to improve their chances in the worldwide competition for foreign direct investment (FDI). However, the effectiveness of BITs in inducing higher FDI inflows is still open to debate. It is in several ways that we attempt to clarify the inconclusive empirical findings of earlier studies. We cover a much larger sample of host and source countries by drawing on a previously unpublished dataset on bilateral FDI flows. Furthermore, we account for unilateral FDI liberalization, in order not to overestimate the effect of BITs, as well as for the potential endogeneity of BITs. Employing a gravity-type model and various model specifications, including an instrumental variable approach, we find that BITs do promote FDI flows to developing countries. In addition, BITs are likely to act as a substitute for unilateral capital account liberalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Busse, Matthias & Königer, Jens & Nunnenkamp, Peter, 2008. "FDI Promotion through Bilateral Investment Treaties More Than a Bit," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 39891, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifwkie:39891
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sosa Andrés, Maximiliano & Nunnenkamp, Peter & Busse, Matthias, 2013. "What drives FDI from non-traditional sources? A comparative analysis of the determinants of bilateral FDI flows," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 7, pages 1-53.
    3. Christian Bellak & Markus Leibrecht, 2019. "The Association of Economic Crises and Investor-State Arbitration Cases," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp284, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
    4. Matthias Busse & Carsten Hefeker & Signe Nelgen, 2013. "Foreign Direct Investment and Exchange Rate Regimes," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 33(1), pages 843-858.
    5. Niti Bhasin & Rinku Manocha, 2016. "Do Bilateral Investment Treaties Promote FDI Inflows? Evidence from India," Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, , vol. 41(4), pages 275-287, December.
    6. Fabian Barthel & Matthias Busse & Eric Neumayer, 2010. "The Impact Of Double Taxation Treaties On Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence From Large Dyadic Panel Data," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 28(3), pages 366-377, July.
    7. Axel Dreher & Andreas Fuchs, 2011. "Rogue Aid? The Determinants of China’s Aid Allocation," Courant Research Centre: Poverty, Equity and Growth - Discussion Papers 93, Courant Research Centre PEG, revised 29 Feb 2012.
    8. Matthias Busse & Peter Nunnenkamp, 2009. "Gender Disparity in Education and the International Competition for Foreign Direct Investment," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 61-90.
    9. Kamel ABDELLAH & Dalila NICET-CHENAF & Eric ROUGIER, 2012. "FDI and macroeconomic volatility: A close-up on the source countries," Cahiers du GREThA (2007-2019) 2012-21, Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée (GREThA).
    10. Selen Sarisoy Guerin, 2011. "Do the European Union’s Bilateral Investment Treaties Matter? The Way Forward After Lisbon," Chapters, in: Wim Meeusen (ed.), The Economic Crisis and European Integration, chapter 6, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    11. Anokye M. Adam, 2013. "Currency Union and Foreign Direct Investment Inflow: Evidence from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 63(1-2), pages 121-132, June.
    12. Anokye M. Adam, 2013. "Currency Union And Foreign Direct Investment Inflow: Evidence From Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas)," Far East Journal of Psychology and Business, Far East Research Centre, vol. 11(5), pages 73-81, May.
    13. Baetens, Freya, 2015. "Transatlantic Investment Treaty Protection � A Response to Poulsen, Bonnitcha and Yackee," CEPS Papers 10297, Centre for European Policy Studies.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI; Multinational Corporations; Bilateral Investment Treaties;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • 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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