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Financial constraints and the margins of FDI

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  • Buch, Claudia M.
  • Kesternich, Iris
  • Lipponer, Alexander
  • Schnitzer, Monika

Abstract

Recent literature on multinational firms has stressed the importance of low productivity as a barrier to the cross-border expansion of firms. But firms may also need external finance to shoulder the costs of entering foreign markets. We develop a model of multinational firms facing real and financial barriers to foreign direct investment (FDI), and we analyze their impact on the FDI decision (the extensive margin) and foreign affiliate sales (the intensive margin). We provide empirical evidence based on a detailed dataset of German multinationals which contains information on parent-level and affiliate-level financial constraints as well as about the location the foreign affiliates. We find that financial factors constrain firms’ foreign investment decisions, an effect felt in particular by large firms. Financial constraints at the parent level matter for the extensive, but less so for the intensive margin. For the intensive margin, financial constraints at the affiliate level are relatively more important.

Suggested Citation

  • Buch, Claudia M. & Kesternich, Iris & Lipponer, Alexander & Schnitzer, Monika, 2009. "Financial constraints and the margins of FDI," Discussion Paper Series 1: Economic Studies 2009,29, Deutsche Bundesbank.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bubdp1:200929
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joachim Wagner, 2014. "Credit constraints and exports: evidence for German manufacturing enterprises," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(3), pages 294-302, January.
    2. Deniz Baglan & Hakan Yilmazkuday, 2018. "Financial Health and the Intensive Margin of Trade," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(6), pages 1304-1319, May.
    3. Katrin Peters & Monika Schnitzer, 2015. "Trade liberalization and credit constraints: Why opening up may fail to promote convergence," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 48(3), pages 1099-1119, August.
    4. Desbordes, Rodolphe & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2017. "The effects of financial development on foreign direct investment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 153-168.
    5. Abdul Rashid & Muhammad Akram, 2017. "Trade Competitiveness and Employment: Job Creation or Job Destruction," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(2), pages 245-296, April.
    6. Raff, Horst & Ryan, Michael & Stähler, Frank, 2015. "Financial frictions and foreign direct investment: Theory and evidence from Japanese microdata," Kiel Working Papers 1992, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    7. Ding, Haoyuan & Fan, Haichao & Jin, Yuying & Qi, Tong, 2022. "Talented overseas returnees and outward foreign direct investment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    8. Bilir, L. Kamran & Chor, Davin & Manova, Kalina, 2019. "Host-country financial development and multinational activity," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 192-220.
    9. Michał Brzozowski, 2013. "Gender Equality as the Determinant of FDI Flows to Central European Countries," Ekonomia journal, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, vol. 33.
    10. Babet Hogetoorn & Michiel Gerritse, 2021. "The impact of terrorism on international mergers and acquisitions: Evidence from firm-level decisions," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 58(3), pages 523-538, May.
    11. C. Fritz Foley & Kalina Manova, 2015. "International Trade, Multinational Activity, and Corporate Finance," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 119-146, August.
    12. Joachim Wagner, 2016. "Credit Constraints and Exports: A Survey of Empirical Studies Using Firm Level Data," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Microeconometrics of International Trade, chapter 12, pages 401-421, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    13. Joachim Wagner & John P. Weche Geluebcke, 2013. "Credit Constraints, Foreign Ownership, and Foreign Takeovers in Germany," Working Paper Series in Economics 283, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    14. Yong Yang & Pedro S. Martins & Nigel Driffield, 2013. "Multinational Performance and the Geography of FDI," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 53(6), pages 763-794, December.
    15. ZHANG, Jiarui & HOU, Lei, 2014. "Financial structure, productivity, and risk of foreign direct investment," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 652-669.
    16. ruble, isabella & Dagher, Leila, 2009. "Challenges to International Climate Policy – Lessons Learned and Alternatives," MPRA Paper 116128, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Kandilov, Ivan T. & Leblebicioğlu, Asli & Petkova, Neviana, 2016. "The impact of banking deregulation on inbound foreign direct investment: Transaction-level evidence from the United States," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 138-159.
    18. Li Junjiang & Hou Lei & Zhang Jiarui, 2011. "Capital endowment, credit constraint and FDI: Analysis based on heterogeneous firms," Frontiers of Economics in China, Springer;Higher Education Press, vol. 6(1), pages 55-75, March.
    19. Salvador Gil-Pareja & Rafael-Llorca Vivero & Jordi Paniagua, 2013. "The effect of the great recession on foreign direct investment: global empirical evidence with a gravity approach," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(13), pages 1244-1248, September.
    20. Sotiris Blanas & Adnan Seric, 2017. "Determinants of Intra-Firm Trade," Working Papers 178118175, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.
    21. Isabel M. Correia & Diana S. Fernandes, 2021. "Financial constraint and foreign direct investment of SMEs: evidence from Portugal," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, Abril - J.
    22. Joachim Wagner & John P. Weche Gelübcke, 2015. "Access to finance, foreign ownership and foreign takeovers in Germany," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(29), pages 3092-3112, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multinational firms; heterogeneity; productivity; financial constraints;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services

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