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Assessing the relationship between total factor productivity and foreign direct investment in an economy with a skills shortage: the case of South Africa

Author

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  • Lumengo Bonga-bonga

    (University of Johannesburg)

  • Maphelane Phume

    (University of Johannesburg)

Abstract

This paper assesses the relationship between total factor productivity (TFP) and foreign direct investment (FDI) in a country with skills shortage. South Africa is used as a case study. Literature is inconclusive on how FDI should affect TFP. This paper shows that it is important to account for the interactivity between FDI and human capital when assessing the effects of FDI on TFP. Moreover, the empirical results show that, contrary to countries with abundance of skills, in countries with skills shortage, it is in fact the change in stock of human capital - or human capital accumulation – that matters in determining the effects of FDI on TFP.

Suggested Citation

  • Lumengo Bonga-bonga & Maphelane Phume, 2018. "Assessing the relationship between total factor productivity and foreign direct investment in an economy with a skills shortage: the case of South Africa," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 38(3), pages 1395-1405.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-17-00975
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    Cited by:

    1. Bonga-Bonga, Lumengo & Kinfack, Emilie, 2019. "The growth effect of trade openness on African countries: evidence from using an Instrumental Variable Panel Smooth Transition Model," MPRA Paper 92111, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Sodiq Arogundade & Mduduzi Biyase & Hinaunye Eita, 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment and Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan African Countries:Does local Economic Conditions Matter?," Economic Development and Well-being Research Group Working Paper Series edwrg-01-2021, University of Johannesburg, College of Business and Economics, revised 2021.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Total factor productivity; foreign direct investment; human capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity
    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General

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