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Determinants of Chinese direct investments in the European Union

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  • Christian Dreger
  • Yun Schüler-Zhou
  • Margot Schüller

Abstract

This article analyses the determinants of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) activities in the European Union (EU). Evidence is based on panel Poisson models drawing on two investment monitors at the individual project level. Greenfield investments (GI) and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are distinguished. The findings indicate that market size and bilateral trade are the main factors for Chinese investment in the EU. In contrast, business-friendly institutions do not foster FDI. Probably, Chinese investors are risk averse, and prefer regions with less competitive markets. The striking difference between GIs and M&As is related to unit labour costs. Higher costs make the host country less attractive for the establishment of new firms, but do not affect the involvement in existing firms. The sectoral dispersion of Chinese FDI in the EU did not change much since the global financial crisis. Most relevant shifts have occurred in research and development (R&D), where low-income EU countries have become increasingly attractive.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Dreger & Yun Schüler-Zhou & Margot Schüller, 2017. "Determinants of Chinese direct investments in the European Union," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(42), pages 4231-4240, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:49:y:2017:i:42:p:4231-4240
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2017.1279269
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wasseem Mina, 2017. "The Race to the Top: Institutional Clusters and World FDI Shares," Working Papers 1136, Economic Research Forum, revised 09 2003.
    3. Dürr, Niklas S. & Rammer, Christian & Böing, Philipp, 2020. "Direktinvestitionen zwischen Deutschland und China aus einer innovationspolitischen Sicht: Studie im Auftrag der Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 8-2020, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    4. Ruilin Yang & Harald Bathelt, 2022. "China's outward investment activity: Ambiguous findings in the literature and empirical trends in greenfield investments," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(1), pages 313-341, March.
    5. Lili Pan & Lin Wang & Qianqian Feng, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Risk Management in Foreign Direct Investment: Insights and Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    6. Paul J.J. Welfens, 2016. "EU-Osterweiterung: Anpassungsprozesse, Binnenmarktdynamik und Euro-Perspektiven," EIIW Discussion paper disbei216, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    7. 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.
    8. Mico Apostolov, 2017. "The impact of FDI on the performance and entrepreneurship of domestic firms," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 390-415, December.
    9. Bas Hooijmaaijers, 2021. "A comparative analysis of the role of the state in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean investment in the EU," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 427-444, December.
    10. Junsong Wang & Yehua Dennis Wei & Bingquan Lin, 2021. "Functional division and location choices of Chinese outward FDI: The case of ICT firms," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(5), pages 937-957, August.
    11. Adolfo Maza & Paula Gutiérrez-Portilla, 2022. "Outward FDI and exports relation: A heterogeneous panel approach dealing with cross-sectional dependence," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 170, pages 174-189.
    12. Flora Rencz, 2023. "The determinants of Chinese foreign direct investment in the European Union," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 331-349, September.
    13. Fascia, Michael, 2019. "Working Paper Series," OSF Preprints s7fg9, Center for Open Science.
    14. Pareja-Alcaraz, Pablo, 2017. "Chinese investments in Southern Europe's energy sectors: Similarities and divergences in China's strategies in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 700-710.
    15. Duncan Freeman, 2017. "Redistributing the EU-China economic relationship: the role of domestic change in China," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 187-198, June.
    16. Ling Feng & Lulan Ge & Zhiyuan Li & Ching‐Yi Lin, 2022. "Financial development and natural resources: The dynamics of China’s outward FDI," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(3), pages 739-762, March.
    17. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Anna Grosman & William L. Megginson, 2023. "A review of the internationalization of state-owned firms and sovereign wealth funds: Governments’ nonbusiness objectives and discreet power," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(1), pages 78-106, February.
    18. Knoerich, Jan & Vitting, Simon, 2021. "The distinct contribution of investment promotion agencies’ branch offices in bringing Chinese multinationals to Europe," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    19. Paul J.J. Welfens, 2016. "Qualitätswettbewerb, Produktinnovationen und Schumpetersche Prozesse in internationalen Märkten," EIIW Discussion paper disbei220, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    20. Andonova, Veneta & Losada-Otálora, Mauricio, 2020. "Understanding the interplay between brand and innovation orientation: Evidence from emerging multinationals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 540-552.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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