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On the Role of Absorptive Capacity: FDI Matters to Growth

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Abstract

The paper studies the e®ects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth when su±cient provisions of infrastructure is a pre-requisite. In the overlap-ping generations structure setting, we show that technology spillovers via FDI take place only when the host country has the su±cient level of infrastructure. Infras-tructure has a subsequent positive feedback on further investment which leads the country grow faster. If infrastructure falls short of the critical level, however, then FDI has little e®ect on growth as the country is trapped in a low-growth equilibrium. We also present the simulations and empirical results based on panel data for 42 developing countries between 1970 and 2000. They provide support to the model that FDI and infrastructure are complements in a®ecting per capita GDP growth.

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  • Yuko Kinishita & Chia-Hui Lu, 2006. "On the Role of Absorptive Capacity: FDI Matters to Growth," IEAS Working Paper : academic research 06-A006, Institute of Economics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
    • Handle: RePEc:sin:wpaper:06-a006
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    1. Sabina Silajdzic & Eldin Mehic, 2016. "Absorptive Capabilities, FDI, and Economic Growth in Transition Economies," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(4), pages 904-922, April.
    2. Chun-Hung Lin & Chia-Ming Lee & Chih-Hai Yang, 2011. "Does foreign direct investment really enhance China's regional productivity?," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(6), pages 741-768, August.
    3. Sailesh Tanna & Chengchun Li & Glauco De Vita, 2018. "The role of external debt in the foreign direct investment–growth relationship," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(4), pages 393-412, October.
    4. Wu, Jyun-Yi & Hsu, Chih-Chiang, 2012. "Foreign direct investment and income inequality: Does the relationship vary with absorptive capacity?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 2183-2189.
    5. 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).
    6. Hossain, Sharif M. & Hosoe, Nobuhiro, 2020. "Welfare and equity impacts of cross-border factor mobility in Bangladesh: A general equilibrium analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 172-184.
    7. Arogundade, Sodiq & Biyase, Mduduzi & Eita, Joel H., 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment and Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Domestic Conditions Matter," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 74(4), pages 463-498.
    8. Yue Lu & Lijing Deng & Ka Zeng, 2022. "Foreign direct investment, innovation, and domestic value‐added in exports: Firm‐level evidence from China," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1199-1228, September.
    9. Naijela Janaina Costa Silveira & Diogo Ferraz & Eduardo Polloni‐Silva & Diego Scarpa de Mello & Fernanda Pereira Sartori Falguera & Herick Fernando Moralles, 2022. "Modeling the building blocks of country‐level absorptive capacity: Comparing developed and emergent economies," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(3), pages 783-824, July.
    10. Moga Tano JILENGA & Xu HELIAN, 2017. "Foreign direct investment and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: The role of institutions," Turkish Economic Review, KSP Journals, vol. 4(4), pages 378-387, December.
    11. Matija Rojec & Mark Knell, 2018. "Why Is There A Lack Of Evidence On Knowledge Spillovers From Foreign Direct Investment?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3), pages 579-612, July.
    12. Duong, Vu Hoang, 2020. "The threshold of absorptive capacity: The case of Vietnamese manufacturing firms," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 44-57.
    13. Pravakar Sahoo & Ranjan Kumar Das, 2021. "Differential Growth Impact of FDI on LICs, LMICs, and ECs: The Role of Absorptive Capabilities," IEG Working Papers 447, Institute of Economic Growth.
    14. Sodiq Arogundade & Mduduzi Biyase & Hinaunye Eita, 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment and poverty in Sub-Saharan African countries: the role of host absorptive capacity," Economic Development and Well-being Research Group Working Paper Series edwrg-04-2021, University of Johannesburg, College of Business and Economics, revised 2021.
    15. Ascani, Andrea & Gagliardi, Luisa, 2020. "Asymmetric spillover effects from MNE investment," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(6).

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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
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures

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