Policy and Non-Policy Factors: What Determines Foreign Direct Investments in Africa?

Studies have been conducted on the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations. However, there seem to be few studies on determinants in African countries. This paper evaluates the determinants of FDI inflows, by examining specific relationships between the determinants (policy and nonpolicy factors) and FDI inflows to Africa, using a panel dataset from 1980 to 2016. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) were used as the estimation techniques. The dependent variable, FDI inflows, was represented by the ratio of FDI flows to GDP, while the independent variables were agglomeration effects, trade openness, fiscal balance-macroeconomic condition, market size, economic instability, exchange rate, foreign aid, human capital development, corporate tax, and natural resource endowment. First-year lag of FDI (agglomeration effects), trade openness, market size, economic instability, foreign aid, human capital development, and natural resources (oil and metals) endowment have positive and significant effects on FDI inflows to Africa, while there is a negative relationship between FDI inflows to the continent and fiscal balance (public debt), exchange rate, and corporate tax. Consequently, government policies and non-policy factors played significant roles in facilitating FDI inflow into Africa during the study period. The p-value of the estimation (0.0001) further attests to the statistical significance of the results. Consequently, African countries must improve their regulatory framework to be able to attract more inflow of FDI. Efforts should also be made to reform and improve macroeconomic policies, institutional quality, and natural comparative advantages.