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Foreign Direct Investment, Absorptive Capacity and Growth in the Arab World

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Abstract

Arab countries have been performing very poorly in attracting FDI inflows relative to other developing countries since the early 1990s. Arab countries might hence be missing out on growth and development, if FDI is associated with positive externalities. The recent empirical literature on FDI and growth shows, however, that the latter is not always the case, and that FDI is more likely to have positive externalities in countries with a certain level of absorptive capacity for FDI. This paper looks at FDI and growth through absorptive capacity in the Arab world, given the available data on four different aspects of absorptive capacity: the technology gap, the level of workforce education, financial development and institutional quality. The results turn out to be highly sensitive to the specific measure of absorptive capacity used, but one conclusion is unambiguous. It is unlikely that the average Arab country currently stands to gain from FDI. As a consequence, costly financial incentives to attract more FDI might hence be wasteful, if not welfare reducing in Arab countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Signe Krogstrup & Linda Matar, 2005. "Foreign Direct Investment, Absorptive Capacity and Growth in the Arab World," IHEID Working Papers 02-2005, Economics Section, The Graduate Institute of International Studies.
  • Handle: RePEc:gii:giihei:heiwp02-2005
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    Cited by:

    1. Nguyen Van Bon, 2019. "The Role Of Institutional Quality In The Relationship Between Fdi And Economic Growth In Vietnam: Empirical Evidence From Provincial Data," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(03), pages 601-623, June.
    2. Shah, Mumtaz Hussain, 2016. "Financial development and foreign direct investment: The case of Middle East and North African (MENA) developing nations," MPRA Paper 82013, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Sodiq Arogundade & Mduduzi Biyase & Hinaunye Eita, 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment and Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan African Countries:Does local Economic Conditions Matter?," Economic Development and Well-being Research Group Working Paper Series edwrg-01-2021, University of Johannesburg, College of Business and Economics, revised 2021.
    4. Shah, Mumtaz Hussain & Azam, Ayesha, 2018. "Financial Development and Investors Location Choice in The Arab World," MPRA Paper 107245, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. repec:zbw:bofitp:2006_017 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Hamad A. Kasasbeh & Metri F. Mdanat & Raed Khasawneh, 2018. "Corruption and FDI Inflows: Evidence from a Small Developing Economy," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(8), pages 1075-1085, August.
    7. Tayem Ghada, 2015. "Does Foreign Ownership Increase Firms’ Productivity? Evidence from Firms Listed on Amman Stock Exchange," Review of Middle East Economics and Finance, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 25-54, April.
    8. Issabayev, Murat & Pelzman, Joseph, 2019. "A model of FDI spillover in a natural resource rich LDC," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    9. Ledyaeva, Svetlana & Linden, Mikael, 2006. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth: empirical evidence from Russian regions," BOFIT Discussion Papers 17/2006, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    10. Muhammad Shahbaz & Nuno Carlos leitão & Summaira Malik, 2011. "Foreign Direct Investment-Economic Growth Nexus: The Role of Domestic Financial Development in Portugal," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 31(4), pages 2824-2838.
    11. Farrokh Nourzad & David Greenwold & Rui Yang, 2014. "The Interaction Between FDI and Infrastructure Capital in The Development Process," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 20(2), pages 203-212, May.
    12. Ledyaeva, Svetlana & Linden, Mikael, 2006. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth : empirical evidence from Russian regions," BOFIT Discussion Papers 17/2006, Bank of Finland, Institute for Economies in Transition.

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    Keywords

    Foreign Direct Investment; Growth; Regional Integration; Middle East; Arab Countries;
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