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Identifying the robust economic, geographical and political determinants of FDI: an Extreme Bounds Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Melisa Chanegriha

    (Middlesex University)

  • Chris Stewart

    (Kingston University)

  • Christopher Tsoukis

    (Keele University)

Abstract

Understanding what determines Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows remains a primary concern of economists and policy makers; yet the uncertainty surrounding FDI theories and empirical approaches has created ambiguity regarding the determinants of FDI. This paper applies Extreme Bounds Analysis to identify the robust determinants of FDI using panel data covering 168 countries from 1970 to 2006. We consider 58 potential economic, geographic and political determinants and find that almost one-third are robust, including: openness, education, government spending, corporate tax rate, infrastructure, experience of conflict, democratic governance, natural resources, geographic location, number of borders, coastal location and language.

Suggested Citation

  • Melisa Chanegriha & Chris Stewart & Christopher Tsoukis, 2017. "Identifying the robust economic, geographical and political determinants of FDI: an Extreme Bounds Analysis," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 52(2), pages 759-776, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:52:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s00181-016-1097-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-016-1097-1
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    2. Wencong Lu & Ikboljon Kasimov & Ibrokhim Karimov & Yakhyobek Abdullaev, 2020. "Foreign Direct Investment, Natural Resources, Economic Freedom, and Sea-Access: Evidence from the Commonwealth of Independent States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Teixeira, Aurora A.C. & Forte, Rosa & Assunção, Susana, 2017. "Do countries' endowments of non-renewable energy resources matter for FDI attraction? A panel data analysis of 125 countries over the period 1995–2012," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 57-71.
    4. Aneta Bobenič Hintošová & František Sudzina & Terézia Barlašová, 2021. "Direct and Indirect Effects of Investment Incentives in Slovakia," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, February.
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    6. Nvuh‐Njoya Youssouf & Keneck‐Massil Joseph & Yogo Urbain Thierry, 2024. "Constitutional instability and foreign direct investment in Africa," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(1), pages 3-23, January.
    7. Chengchun Li & Yun Luo & Glauco Vita, 2020. "Institutional difference and outward FDI: evidence from China," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1837-1862, April.
    8. Okafor, Luke Emeka & Hassan, M. Kabir & Rashid, Mamunur & Prabu, Darniya & Sabit, Ahmed, 2022. "Risk dimensions, risk clusters, and foreign direct investments in developing countries," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 636-649.
    9. René Cabral & André Varella Mollick & Eduardo Saucedo, 2019. "Foreign Direct Investment In Mexico, Crime, And Economic Forces," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 37(1), pages 68-85, January.
    10. Víctor Mauricio Castaneda Rodríguez & Jairo Orlando Villabona-Robayo, 2020. "El impuesto sobre la renta empresarial en Colombia: su tasa efectiva y su relación con la inversión," Apuntes del Cenes, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, vol. 39(70), pages 183-205, July.
    11. Mohammad Razib Hossain, 2021. "Inward foreign direct investment in Bangladesh: Do we need to rethink about some of the macro-level quantitative determinants?," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 1-23, March.
    12. Jelena Zvezdanoviæ Lobanova & Mikhail Lobanov & Milan, 2021. "Governance and civil and political rights as FDI determinants in transition countries," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 39(1), pages 59-86.
    13. Cabral Torres René & Mollick André V. & Saucedo Eduardo, 2018. "The Impact of Crime and Other Economic Forces on Mexico's Foreign Direct Investment Inflows," Working Papers 2018-24, Banco de México.
    14. Melisa Chanegriha & Chris Stewart & Christopher Tsoukis, 2020. "Testing for causality between FDI and economic growth using heterogeneous panel data," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(5), pages 546-565, July.
    15. Yu Fu & Agus Supriyadi & Tao Wang, 2018. "China’s Outward FDI in Indonesia: Spatial Patterns and Determinants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    16. Tjeerd M. Boonman & Andrea E. Sanchez Urbina, 2020. "Extreme Bounds Analysis in Early Warning Systems for Currency Crises," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 431-470, April.
    17. Mirkina, Irina, 2018. "FDI and sanctions: An empirical analysis of short- and long-run effects," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 198-225.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign Direct Investment; Extreme Bounds Analysis; Panel data; Economic; geographic and political determinants;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • C4 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics

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