IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/intsec/v17y2022i4p459-483.html

The Belt and Road Initiative, political involvement, and China's OFDI

Author

Listed:
  • Haoyuan Ding
  • Yi Li
  • Liang Wang
  • Chang Xue

Abstract

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an important strategy for China. This study examines the effect of political involvement on firms' outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in belt‐road countries after the BRI. Using merged Chinese nonfinancial listed firm data, the fDi Markets database, and the Thomson One database (formerly known as SDC Platinum) for the period 2008–2018, we find that political involvement has positive effect on firms' OFDI in belt‐road countries after the BRI. Furthermore, we find that the positive effect is heterogeneous across state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) and non‐SOEs. Political involvement has a positive effect on M&A for SOEs and Greenfield investment for non‐SOEs in belt‐road countries after the BRI. Our findings suggest that political involvement promotes firms' OFDI in belt‐road countries after the BRI and is helpful to the macro‐policy implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Haoyuan Ding & Yi Li & Liang Wang & Chang Xue, 2022. "The Belt and Road Initiative, political involvement, and China's OFDI," International Studies of Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), pages 459-483, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:intsec:v:17:y:2022:i:4:p:459-483
    DOI: 10.1002/ise3.15
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/ise3.15
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/ise3.15?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S. Brammer & Geoffrey Williams & John Zinkin, 2007. "Religion and Attitudes to Corporate Social Responsibility in a Large Cross-Country Sample," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 71(3), pages 229-243, March.
    2. Miguel A. Ferreira & Massimo Massa & Pedro Matos, 2010. "Shareholders at the Gate? Institutional Investors and Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(2), pages 601-644, February.
    3. Shu Lin & Haichun Ye, 2018. "Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Credit, and Transmission of Global Liquidity Shocks: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 31(1), pages 206-238.
    4. de Soyres, François & Mulabdic, Alen & Murray, Siobhan & Rocha, Nadia & Ruta, Michele, 2019. "How much will the Belt and Road Initiative reduce trade costs?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 151-164.
    5. Du, Julan & Zhang, Yifei, 2018. "Does One Belt One Road initiative promote Chinese overseas direct investment?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 189-205.
    6. Li, Hongbin & Zhou, Li-An, 2005. "Political turnover and economic performance: the incentive role of personnel control in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(9-10), pages 1743-1762, September.
    7. Nocke, Volker & Yeaple, Stephen, 2007. "Cross-border mergers and acquisitions vs. greenfield foreign direct investment: The role of firm heterogeneity," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(2), pages 336-365, July.
    8. James Ang & Carol Boyer, 2007. "Finance and politics: the wealth effects of special interest group influence during the nationalisation and privatisation of Conrail," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 31(2), pages 193-215, March.
    9. Joseph D. Piotroski & T.J. Wong, 2012. "Institutions and Information Environment of Chinese Listed Firms," NBER Chapters, in: Capitalizing China, pages 201-242, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Li, Hongbin & Meng, Lingsheng & Wang, Qian & Zhou, Li-An, 2008. "Political connections, financing and firm performance: Evidence from Chinese private firms," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 283-299, October.
    11. Jean-François Hennart & Arjen HL Slangen, 2015. "Yes, we really do need more entry mode studies! A commentary on Shaver," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(1), pages 114-122, January.
    12. An, Heng & Chen, Yanyan & Luo, Danglun & Zhang, Ting, 2016. "Political uncertainty and corporate investment: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 174-189.
    13. He, Haoran & Jiang, Shuguang, 2020. "Partisan culture, identity and corruption: An experiment based on the Chinese Communist Party," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    14. Hyunseob Kim & Howard Kung, 2017. "The Asset Redeployability Channel: How Uncertainty Affects Corporate Investment," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 30(1), pages 245-280.
    15. Jiajia Zheng & Pengfei Sheng, 2017. "The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the Environment: Market Perspectives and Evidence from China," Economies, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-15, March.
    16. Yingyi Qian, 1996. "Enterprise reform in China: agency problems and political control," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 4(2), pages 427-447, October.
    17. Baniya, Suprabha & Rocha, Nadia & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Trade effects of the New Silk Road: A gravity analysis," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    18. Lixin Colin Xu & Tian Zhu & Yi‐min Lin, 2005. "Politician control, agency problems and ownership reform," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, January.
    19. Liu, Qigui & Tang, Jinghua & Tian, Gary Gang, 2013. "Does political capital create value in the IPO market? Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 395-413.
    20. Cheng, Leonard K. & Kwan, Yum K., 2000. "What are the determinants of the location of foreign direct investment? The Chinese experience," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 379-400, August.
    21. J Myles Shaver, 2013. "Do we really need more entry mode studies?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(1), pages 23-27, January.
    22. Christian Bellak & Markus Leibrecht & Jože P. Damijan, 2009. "Infrastructure Endowment and Corporate Income Taxes as Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Central and Eastern European Countries," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 267-290, February.
    23. Eero Vaara & Riikka Sarala & Günter K. Stahl & Ingmar Björkman, 2012. "The Impact of Organizational and National Cultural Differences on Social Conflict and Knowledge Transfer in International Acquisitions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1), pages 1-27, January.
    24. Cheng, Zhiming, 2022. "Communist Party branch and labour rights: Evidence from Chinese entrepreneurs," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    25. Chang, Eric C. & Wong, Sonia M.L., 2004. "Political control and performance in China's listed firms," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 617-636, December.
    26. Guo, Hong & Li, Wanli & Zhong, Yuxiang, 2019. "Political involvement and firm performance — Chinese setting and cross-country evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 218-231.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fangnan Cui & Yue Tan & Bangwen Lu, 2025. "How the Belt and Road Initiative Transforms Corporate ESG Performance: Insights from China’s Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-27, April.
    2. Wen, Zhiyuan & Zhang, Liqin & Fang, Xinran, 2025. "Belt and Road Initiative and sustainable development performance of Chinese enterprises," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Deng, Yuping & Wu, Yanrui & Xu, Helian, 2019. "Political connections and firm pollution behaviour: An empirical study," BOFIT Discussion Papers 4/2019, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    2. Kong, Gaowen & Ji, Mianmian & Guo, Yuemei, 2021. "Political promotion events and energy conservation decisions: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    3. Yuping Deng & Yanrui Wu & Helian Xu, 2020. "Political Connections and Firm Pollution Behaviour: An Empirical Study," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 75(4), pages 867-898, April.
    4. Jiang, Haiyan & Hu, Yuanyuan & Zhang, Honghui & Zhou, Donghua, 2018. "Benefits of Downward Earnings Management and Political Connection: Evidence from Government Subsidy and Market Pricing," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 255-273.
    5. Kyriacou, Kyriacos & Liu, Siming & Mase, Bryan, 2024. "Corruption and insider trading," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Tianxu Jiang & Min Zhu, 2021. "The impact of innovation on companies’ cross-border mergers and acquisitions: evidence from China," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 969-991, June.
    7. Joseph P. H. Fan & Randall Morck, 2012. "Capitalizing China," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number morc10-1, January.
    8. Le Chang & Jing Li & Kee-Cheok Cheong & Lim-Thye Goh, 2021. "Can Existing Theories Explain China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment in Belt and Road Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    9. Chen, Yanyan, 2022. "Does political turnover affect corporate investment? Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    10. Zhou, Mohan & Lin, Faqin & Li, Tan, 2016. "Remote markets as shelters for local distortions: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 241-253.
    11. Yuli Liu & Min Xu & Yu Huang & Ningning Fu, 2025. "Has the “Belt and Road Initiative” Promoted Chinese OFDI in Green Energy? Evidence from Chinese Energy Engagement in BRI Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-24, October.
    12. Anas Rakha & Khadiga El‑Aasar, 2024. "The impact of the belt and road initiative on the Suez Canal cargo trade," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, December.
    13. Kong, Dongmin & Cheng, Xu & Jiang, Xiandeng, 2021. "Effects of political promotion on local firms’ social responsibility in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 418-429.
    14. Feng, Qianbin & Hu, Xiao & Deng, Xinyi & Lu, Jun, 2023. "Anti-corruption campaign and capacity utilization of state-owned enterprises: Evidence from China’s central committee inspection," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 319-346.
    15. Ding Xiong & Xin Zhong & Kai Sun & Sirui Zhao, 2025. "The Belt and Road Initiative and Urban Entrepreneurship: Evidence From the Opening Policy From China," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 84(3), pages 481-496, May.
    16. Nugent, Jeffrey B. & Lu, Jiaxuan, 2021. "China's outward foreign direct investment in the Belt and Road Initiative: What are the motives for Chinese firms to invest?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    17. Feng, Yusen & Wang, Gang-Jin & Zhu, You & Xie, Chi, 2023. "Systemic risk spillovers and the determinants in the stock markets of the Belt and Road countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    18. Swanpitak, Tanapond & Pan, Xiaofei & Suardi, Sandy, 2020. "The value of family control during political uncertainty: Evidence from Thailand's constitutional change in 201411We are grateful for helpful comments and suggestions provided by Shu-Ching Chou, Woochan Kim, Nicolas Eugster, Yu-Shan Wei and participa," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    19. Liang, Quanxi & Wang, Zhimin & Guan, Xin & Qin, Wei, 2023. "Party direct control and corporate fraud: Evidence from China," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 274-290.
    20. Ding, Mingfa & Han, Yikai & Shen, Mi & Suardi, Sandy, 2025. "Political turnover and related party transactions in Chinese state-owned enterprises," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:intsec:v:17:y:2022:i:4:p:459-483. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.