IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/jintdv/v35y2023i7p1782-1813.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The impact of development strategy choice on capital mobility and economic growth

Author

Listed:
  • Sovath Kenh

Abstract

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been widely acknowledged as a prominent vehicle to transfer technology, increase productivity and promote economic growth in recipient countries. However, FDI's contribution to economic growth can be more or less pronounced across countries conditioned on the development strategy adopted. This paper theoretically and empirically explores the impact of FDI inflows on economic growth when a comparative advantage development strategy is followed and when it is defied. By employing cross‐country panel data evidence for 72 countries over the 1971–2019 period, the results suggest that FDI is an essential driver for economic growth. However, the greater the level of defiance from comparative advantages estimated by the technology choice index (TCI), the lower the FDI inflow contributes to economic growth. The findings are more significant for the instrumental variable approach postulating the potential endogeneity of FDI and TCI and decomposed FDI by sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Sovath Kenh, 2023. "The impact of development strategy choice on capital mobility and economic growth," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(7), pages 1782-1813, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:35:y:2023:i:7:p:1782-1813
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.3754
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3754
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/jid.3754?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. Joshua D. Angrist & Alan B. Krueger, 2001. "Instrumental Variables and the Search for Identification: From Supply and Demand to Natural Experiments," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 15(4), pages 69-85, Fall.
    2. Makiela, Kamil & Ouattara, Bazoumana, 2018. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth: Exploring the transmission channels," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 296-305.
    3. Balasubramanyam, V N & Salisu, M & Sapsford, David, 1996. "Foreign Direct Investment and Growth in EP and IS Countries," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(434), pages 92-105, January.
    4. Holger Görg & David Greenaway, 2016. "Much Ado about Nothing? Do Domestic Firms Really Benefit from Foreign Direct Investment?," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES AND HOST COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT Volume 53: World Scientific Studies in International Economics, chapter 9, pages 163-189, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    5. Barro, Robert J & Mankiw, N Gregory & Sala-i-Martin, Xavier, 1995. "Capital Mobility in Neoclassical Models of Growth," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 85(1), pages 103-115, March.
    6. Iamsiraroj, Sasi, 2016. "The foreign direct investment–economic growth nexus," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 116-133.
    7. Syed Tehseen Jawaid & Syed Ali Raza & Khalid Mustafa & Mohd Zaini Abd Karim, 2016. "Does Inward Foreign Direct Investment Lead Export Performance in Pakistan?," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 17(6), pages 1296-1313, December.
    8. Brian J. Aitken & Ann E. Harrison, 2022. "Do Domestic Firms Benefit from Direct Foreign Investment? Evidence from Venezuela," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Globalization, Firms, and Workers, chapter 6, pages 139-152, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    9. Sachs, Jeffrey D. & Warner, Andrew M., 1999. "The big push, natural resource booms and growth," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(1), pages 43-76, June.
    10. Nahed Zghidi & Imen Mohamed Sghaier & Zouheir Abida, 2016. "Does Economic Freedom Enhance the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth in North African Countries? A Panel Data Analysis," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 28(1), pages 64-74, March.
    11. Dierk Herzer, 2012. "How Does Foreign Direct Investment Really Affect Developing Countries' Growth?," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(2), pages 396-414, May.
    12. Haryo Aswicahyono, 2000. "How Not to Industrialise? Indonesia's Automotive Industry," Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(1), pages 209-241.
    13. De Gregorio, Jose, 1992. "Economic growth in Latin America," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 59-84, July.
    14. Stein, Howard, 1992. "Deindustrialization, adjustment, the World Bank and the IMF in Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 83-95, January.
    15. Daron Acemoglu & Veronica Guerrieri, 2008. "Capital Deepening and Nonbalanced Economic Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(3), pages 467-498, June.
    16. Justin Yifu Lin, 2012. "New Structural Economics : A Framework for Rethinking Development and Policy," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2232, December.
    17. Binyam Afewerk Demena & Peter A. G. van Bergeijk, 2019. "Observing FDI spillover transmission channels: evidence from firms in Uganda," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(9), pages 1708-1729, September.
    18. V. N. Balasubramanyam & M. A. Salisu & David Sapsford, 1996. "Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Policy and Economic Growth," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: V. N. Balasubramanyam & D. Greenaway (ed.), Trade and Development, chapter 1, pages 3-21, Palgrave Macmillan.
    19. Bruton, H.J., 1998. "A Reconsideration of Import Substitution," Center for Development Economics 156, Department of Economics, Williams College.
    20. Lectard, Pauline & Rougier, Eric, 2018. "Can Developing Countries Gain from Defying Comparative Advantage? Distance to Comparative Advantage, Export Diversification and Sophistication, and the Dynamics of Specialization," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 90-110.
    21. Mihir A. Desai & C. Fritz Foley & James R. Hines Jr., 2005. "Foreign Direct Investment and the Domestic Capital Stock," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(2), pages 33-38, May.
    22. Richard Grabowski, 2015. "Economic strategy and agricultural productivity," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 17(2), pages 167-183, October.
    23. Alfaro, Laura & Chanda, Areendam & Kalemli-Ozcan, Sebnem & Sayek, Selin, 2004. "FDI and economic growth: the role of local financial markets," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 89-112, October.
    24. Christopher Malikane & Prosper Chitambara, 2017. "Foreign Direct Investment, Democracy and Economic Growth in Southern Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(1), pages 92-102, March.
    25. Moralles, Herick Fernando & Moreno, Rosina, 2020. "FDI productivity spillovers and absorptive capacity in Brazilian firms: A threshold regression analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 257-272.
    26. Head, Keith & Ries, John & Swenson, Deborah, 1995. "Agglomeration benefits and location choice: Evidence from Japanese manufacturing investments in the United States," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(3-4), pages 223-247, May.
    27. Melaku Abegaz & Sajal Lahiri, 2021. "Efficiency Spillovers From Foreign Direct Investment and Domestic‐exporting Firms: The Case of Ethiopian Manufacturing," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 151-170, January.
    28. Shafiq Dhanani & Syed Asif Hasnain, 2002. "The Impact Of Foreign Direct Investment On Indonesia'S Manufacturing Sector," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 61-94.
    29. Brecher, Richard A. & Bhagwati, Jagdish N., 1982. "Immiserizing transfers from abroad," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(3-4), pages 353-364, November.
    30. Gordon H. HANSON, 2001. "Should Countries Promote Foreign Direct Investment?," G-24 Discussion Papers 9, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    31. Torfinn Harding & Beata S. Javorcik, 2012. "Foreign Direct Investment and Export Upgrading," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 94(4), pages 964-980, November.
    32. Auty, R. M., 2003. "Third time lucky for Algeria? Integrating an industrializing oil-rich country into the global economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(1-2), pages 37-47.
    33. Mihir A. Desai & C. Fritz Foley & James R. Hines Jr., 2005. "Foreign Direct Investment and Domestic Economic Activity," NBER Working Papers 11717, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    34. Taylor, Alan M., 1998. "On the Costs of Inward-Looking Development: Price Distortions, Growth, and Divergence in Latin America," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 58(1), pages 1-28, March.
    35. Irwin, Douglas A., 2021. "The rise and fall of import substitution," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    36. Li, Chengchun & Tanna, Sailesh, 2019. "The impact of foreign direct investment on productivity: New evidence for developing countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 453-466.
    37. Carmen Fillat & Julia Woerz, 2011. "Good or bad? The influence of FDI on productivity growth. An industry-level analysis," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 293-328.
    38. Joshua Angrist & Alan Krueger, 2001. "Instrumental Variables and the Search for Identification: From Supply and Demand to Natural Experiments," Working Papers 834, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    39. Barry Eichengreen, 2004. "Capital Flows and Crises," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262550598, December.
    40. V N Balasubramanyam & M Salisu & David Sapsford, "undated". "Foreign Direct Investment and Growth: New Hypotheses and Evidence," Working Papers ec7/96, Department of Economics, University of Lancaster.
    41. Reiter, S.L. & Steensma, H. Kevin, 2010. "Human Development and Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries: The Influence of FDI Policy and Corruption," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(12), pages 1678-1691, December.
    42. Xu, Bin, 2000. "Multinational enterprises, technology diffusion, and host country productivity growth," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(2), pages 477-493, August.
    43. Schwab, Daniel & Werker, Eric, 2018. "Are economic rents good for development? Evidence from the manufacturing sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 33-45.
    44. Bwalya, Samuel Mulenga, 2006. "Foreign direct investment and technology spillovers: Evidence from panel data analysis of manufacturing firms in Zambia," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(2), pages 514-526, December.
    45. Henry J. Bruton, 1998. "A Reconsideration of Import Substitution," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 36(2), pages 903-936, June.
    46. Trang Thi-Huyen Dinh & Duc Hong Vo & Anh The Vo & Thang Cong Nguyen, 2019. "Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in the Short Run and Long Run: Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-11, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Thierry Mayer, 2006. "Policy Coherence for Development: A Background Paper on Foreign Direct Investment," OECD Development Centre Working Papers 253, OECD Publishing.
    2. Argentino Pessoa, 2008. "Multinational Corporations, Foreign Investment, and Royalties and License Fees: Effects on Host-Country Total Factor Productivity," Notas Económicas, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, issue 28, pages 6-31, December.
    3. Jen‐Chung Mei, 2023. "Foreign direct investment and relative capacity: Theory and evidence," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 1175-1214, October.
    4. Dierk Herzer & Julian Donaubauer, 2018. "The long-run effect of foreign direct investment on total factor productivity in developing countries: a panel cointegration analysis," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 309-342, March.
    5. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/10184 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Sunde, Tafirenyika, 2022. "The impact of foreign direct investment on Namibia’s economic growth: A time series investigation," MPRA Paper 117366, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 03 May 2023.
    7. Justin Paul & Gurmeet Singh, 2017. "The 45 years of foreign direct investment research: Approaches, advances and analytical areas," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(11), pages 2512-2527, November.
    8. Dalila NICET-CHENAF & Eric ROUGIER, 2009. "FDI and growth: A new look at a still puzzling issue," Cahiers du GREThA (2007-2019) 2009-13, Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée (GREThA).
    9. Benzaim, Samia & Ftiti, Zied & Khedhaouria, Anis & Djermane, Rebai, 2023. "US foreign investments: Technology transfer, relative backwardness, and the productivity growth of host countries," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 275-295.
    10. Burcu ŞENALP, 2018. "Foreign Direct Investment, Economic Growth and Economic Freedom: A Literature Survey," Istanbul Journal of Economics-Istanbul Iktisat Dergisi, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 68(2), pages 301-336, December.
    11. Makiela, Kamil & Ouattara, Bazoumana, 2018. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth: Exploring the transmission channels," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 296-305.
    12. Mouna Gammoudi & Mondher Cherif & Simplice Asongu, 2016. "FDI and Growth in the MENA countries: Are the GCC countries Different?," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 16/015, African Governance and Development Institute..
    13. Mohammad I. Elian & Nabeel Sawalha & Ahmed Bani-Mustafa, 2020. "Revisiting the FDI–Growth Nexus: ARDL Bound Test for BRICS Standalone Economies," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(6), pages 1-1, June.
    14. Rajneesh Narula & André Pineli, 2019. "Improving the developmental impact of multinational enterprises: policy and research challenges," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 46(1), pages 1-24, March.
    15. Antoci, Angelo & Borghesi, Simone & Russu, Paolo & Ticci, Elisa, 2015. "Foreign direct investments, environmental externalities and capital segmentation in a rural economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 341-353.
    16. Rosemary Stanley Taylor, 2020. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth. Analysis of sectoral foreign direct investment in Tanzania," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(4), pages 699-717, December.
    17. Oscar Bajo-Rubio, 2021. "The role of foreign direct investment in growth: Spain, 1964–2013," Applied Economic Analysis, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(90), pages 263-276, October.
    18. Asafo-Agyei, George & Kodongo, Odongo, 2022. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A nonlinear analysis," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(4).
    19. Mohammed Abdullah & Murshed Chowdhury, 2020. "Foreign Direct Investment and Total Factor Productivity: Any Nexus?," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 164-190, May.
    20. Kemeny, Thomas, 2010. "Does Foreign Direct Investment Drive Technological Upgrading?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 1543-1554, November.
    21. Shima’a Hanafy & Marcus Marktanner, 2019. "Sectoral FDI, absorptive capacity and economic growth – empirical evidence from Egyptian governorates," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 57-81, January.

    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:jintdv:v:35:y:2023:i:7:p:1782-1813. 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: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/5102/home .

    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.