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Investing Overseas Without Moving Factories Abroad: The Case of Chinese Outward Direct Investment

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  • Yiping Huang

    (China Macroeconomic Research Center, National School of Development, Peking University)

  • Bijun Wang

    (China Macroeconomic Research Center, National School of Development, Peking University)

Abstract

Chinese outward direct investment (ODI) is unique in the sense that it starts in the early stage of economic development and does not move factories overseas. Empirical analyses using firm-level data confirm that the main purpose of Chinese ODI is to strengthen domestic production and productivity by acquiring strategic assets overseas. This Chinese style of ODI, which is different from Japanese efficiency-seeking ODI or American market-seeking ODI, is mainly underscored by significant cost advantage and abundant foreign exchange. We suggest that there might be a life cycle of ODI, which evolves from the Chinese style to the Japanese style and then to the American style as the economy develops. Following this proposition, we expect a major wave of ODI by Chinese small-sized and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the coming decade. © 2013 Asian Development Bank and Asian Development Bank Institute.

Suggested Citation

  • Yiping Huang & Bijun Wang, 2013. "Investing Overseas Without Moving Factories Abroad: The Case of Chinese Outward Direct Investment," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 30(1), pages 85-107, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:adbadr:v:30:y:2013:i:1:p:85-107
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    Cited by:

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    2. Dylan Sutherland & John Anderson & Peter Hertenstein, 2018. "Is the Strategic Asset Seeking Investment Proclivity of Chinese MNEs Different to that of Developed Market MNEs? A Comparative Analysis of Location Choice and Orientation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 911-933, December.
    3. Wenjie Chen & Heiwai Tang, 2014. "The Dragon Is Flying West: Micro-level Evidence of Chinese Outward Direct Investment," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 31(2), pages 109-140, September.
    4. Bijun Wang & Rui Mao & Qin Gou, 2014. "Overseas Impacts of China's Outward Direct Investment," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 9(2), pages 227-249, July.
    5. Süssmuth, Bernd & Gawellek, Bastian & Lyu, Jingjing, 2015. "Did Chinese Outward Activity Attenuate or Aggravate the Great Recession in Developing Countries?," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 112994, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    6. Jackie M. L. Chan & Huanhuan Zheng, 2022. "FDI on the move: cross-border M&A and migrant networks," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 158(3), pages 947-985, August.
    7. Ming Zhang & Xiaofen Tan, 2015. "Vanishing of China's Twin Surpluses and Its Policy Implications," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 23(1), pages 101-120, January.
    8. Gawellek, Bastian & Lyu, Jingjing & Süssmuth, Bernd, 2021. "Geo-politics and the impact of China's outward investment on developing countries: evidence from the Great Recession," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    9. Bastian Gawellek & Jingjing Lyu & Bernd Süssmuth, 2016. "Did Chinese Outward Activity Attenuate or Aggravate the Great Recession in Developing Countries?," CESifo Working Paper Series 5735, CESifo.
    10. Amal Krishnan & Padmaja Mundakkad, 2023. "Outward FDI and its impact on the parent firm: A case of Indian manufacturing firms," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 43(3), pages 1470-1484.
    11. Barbora Abu Dayeh & Martin Janíčko, 2021. "Determinants of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Central and Eastern Europe," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2021(3), pages 19-36.
    12. Howell, Anthony & Lin, Jia & Worack, Stephan, 2020. "Going out to innovate more at home: Impacts of outward direct investments on Chinese firms' domestic innovation performance," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
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    14. Degong Ma & Chun Lei & Farid Ullah & Raza Ullah & Qadar Bakhsh Baloch, 2019. "China’s One Belt and One Road Initiative and Outward Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-13, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Chinese outward direct investment; Chinese style ODI; ODI life-cycle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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