Infrastructure or foreign direct investment?: An examination of the implications of MNE strategy for economic development

This paper explores the paradoxical relationship between MNE current strategies and economic development. There is evidence that positive developmental impacts of FDI flows are conditional on high levels of human capital and thus on the existence of ‘good’ infrastructure in recipient countries. In this paper we suggest that current MNE strategies have a negative impact on the development of infrastructure in LDCs. The justification for this argument arises from the low developmental impact of current FDI patterns and from rising costs of attracting increasingly footloose investment. The overall effect is to aggravate government financial constraints on the development of basic infrastructure. We develop propositions for future empirical research. We also consider implications for MNE strategy and argue that current MNE strategies are not only ineffective for delivering poverty reduction but that current strategies in developing countries do not necessarily serve the interest of MNEs either.     

Intermediary Products: FDI Strategies,Imports, Exports,and Trade Balances in Developed Economies

Has the relationship between the dominant investment motives of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and national trade balances, imports, and exports changed over time? A 1996 study hypothesized and found that the MNE market versus resource seeking investment motives in developed countries (DCs) resulted in different aggregate impacts on national trade balances, imports, and exports. In this study, we ask whether the increased use of intermediary products, a major change in the way MNEs conduct business, affect the previously found patterns. Because firm‐level data on intermediary products is not widely available across countries, we indirectly test their impact, hypothesizing that the rise in use of intermediary products has changed MNE investment motives in DCs, resulting in stronger relationships between foreign direct investment (FDI) and imports/exports in high‐FDI DCs but weaker links between FDI and national trade balances. Implications and future research directions are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Investment History and Market Orientation Effects in the TFP–FDI Relationship1

This paper examines the robustness of previous stochastic dominance tests that find significant total factor productivity (TFP) heterogeneity between firms that export abroad and multinational enterprises (MNEs). We extend this literature by focusing on how ‘within‐MNE’ heterogeneity affects the extent to which one can identify the TFP threshold in the exporter–MNE TFP relationship. Within‐MNE heterogeneity is established by determining both the number and location of the foreign affiliates established by each MNE. In this way, we separate single‐affiliate MNEs from those with multiple affiliates, as well as analyse the role played by vertical FDI, a topic typically ignored in previous stochastic dominance tests of the Helpman et al. (2004, American Economic Review, 94, 300–16) hypothesis. Our empirical tests employ Japanese firm‐level FDI and TFP data for the period 1975–2000. Using Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests to determine stochastic dominance, we find significant TFP heterogeneity within the MNE group based on investment history and affiliate geographic location. While our results confirm the standard HMY three‐tiered classification to exist for Japanese firms, exporter–MNE ‘between‐group’ TFP heterogeneity is sensitive to the ‘within‐MNE’ investment history heterogeneity. We note that single‐ and two‐affiliate MNEs are statistically more similar to exporting firms than to MNEs with greater foreign affiliate totals. This shows the exporter–MNE TFP threshold to be not as explicit as Helpman et al. (2004, American Economic Review, 94, 300–16) suggest. In fact, our results allow us to identify the MNE‐side width of Girma et al.’s (2005, Economic Letters, 83, 317–24) ‘uncertainty region’ surrounding this threshold. Finally, we also find a strong TFP–market orientation relationship exists where the most productive firms follow complex integration strategies, lesser TFP firms do horizontal FDI, and the least productive MNEs do vertical FDI.     

Corporate ownership and the theory of the multinational enterprise

This paper makes a contribution to the theory of the multinational enterprise (MNE) and, in particular, to why firms undertake foreign direct investment (FDI) rather than alternative strategies. We argue that FDI and its strategic alternatives involve different patterns of costs and returns over time, and hence different levels of risk and uncertainty. Traditional theories of the MNE conceptualize the firm as a risk-neutral decision-making entity with short-term efficiency objectives, and hence do not take these issues into account. This may be reasonable for firms with passive professional managers and widely-dispersed shareholders, operating in countries with the Anglo-American system of corporate governance. But many firms operate under quite different systems of corporate governance where concentrated shareholdings are commonplace and markets for corporate control are weak or non-existent. In these cases, shareholders exert considerable influence on all aspects of firm strategy including FDI. Furthermore, different groups of shareholders (State, family, institutions) are likely to have different objectives, different attitudes towards risk, and different decision-making time horizons. We thus suggest that the traditional theories of the MNE need to be extended to embrace consideration of corporate ownership (and other governance dimensions).     

Explaining employment changes in foreign manufacturing investment in the UK

This article tests the view that the impact which foreign direct investment (FDI) has upon employment within the host economy will vary according to the entry mode which the multinational enterprise (MNE) chooses, the type of subsidiary and the nationality of the parent organisation which is established in the regional economy. Data were collected from the subsidiaries of foreign-owned firms in the UK. A model was devised and tested with estimations using this data. The results provide support for the view that the impact of FDI may be differentiated by entry mode, nationality and subsidiary type. Specifically, firms which entered by way of greenfield investment created positive employment effects as compared to those which entered by means of a merger or acquisition where the effects were relatively negative. There is some evidence that impact is also ownership specific. Finally, those subsidiaries which performed more value-added functions had a positive effect on employment.     

外商直接投资与农业产业安全——基于国内投资与就业挤出效应视角的实证研究

基于国内外的研究成果,提出一种研究外商直接投资对我国农业产业安全影响的新思路。一方面,选用1997年至2009年的相关时间序列数据,构造了联立方程模型,分别利用二阶段最小二乘法(2SLS)和普通最小二乘法(OLS)估计了农业引入外商直接投资对国内投资和就业所产生的挤出效应。实证结果显示,农业实际利用外商直接投资金额增加1%将导致0.2%的国内投资和0.01%的农业就业被挤出;另一方面,基于国内投资与就业挤出效应视角,针对外商直接投资对我国农业产业安全可能产生的影响提出了相应的对策。     

韩国引进外商直接投资政策的变迁及其对我国的启示

韩国引进外商直接投资政策经历了从消极到积极的转变。本文系统介绍了韩国外商直接投资政策的变化及其成效,分析了韩国外商直接投资的结构及其机构,总结了韩国吸引外商直接投资对我国吸引外商直接投资的启示。     

外商直接投资地区集聚效应的实证研究

外商直接投资集聚的产生是一个动态的过程,它借助于产业集聚和国别集聚最终表现为区域集聚。本文以江苏省引进外资的数据对FDI地区集聚的特征、效应和形成机理展开深入的实证研究,结论表明集聚效应对外资的区位选择有着重要的影响,外商直接投资不同产业和国别的集聚效应有着很大的差异。     

Pitfalls in the use of foreign direct investment statistics

Foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics are widely used to study the impact of international capital movements and multinational enterprise (MNE) activities. FDI intensity is also an important indicator of globalisation and economic integration. Datasets spanning long time periods and with broad country coverage have been employed in numerous studies to analyse various aspects of the determinants and consequences of FDI. Focusing on a relatively homogeneous group of six Western European EU countries, the present study finds major inconsistencies in the construction and coverage of these data both through time and across countries, leading to large discrepancies. Asymmetries will be far greater for broader groups of more economically and institutionally diverse countries. This study recommends extreme caution in drawing conclusions based on FDI data.     

外商直接投资我国食品产业的决定因素分析——基于面板数据的实证考察

本文采用计量经济模型,对外商直接投资中国食品产业的潜在决定因素进行了实证考察。结果表明,市场规模、企业平均规模、市场发育程度、附加值率、产业集聚程度和产业政策是外商直接投资中国食品产业的重要决定因素,劳动力成本可能并不是当前外商直接投资中国食品产业的重要决定因素,或者这一优势正在弱化。在此基础上,结合中国的实际情况,我们给出了简要的结论和政策涵义。     

Multinational enterprises and wage costs: vertical FDI revisited

This study explores how wage costs for high-skilled and less-skilled labor in host countries affect the level of affiliate activities conducted by foreign MNEs. We find support for vertical FDI, in the sense that more FDI is conducted in countries where less-skilled labor is relatively cheap. In addition, we find that skilled-wage cost premia also affect FDI activities previously associated with horizontal FDI, i.e. local affiliate sales. Consequently, the potential effects of relative wage costs on MNE activities are large. Rough calculations suggest that more than 20 percent of US affiliate sales in 1998 can be attributed to skilled-wage cost premia.     

The investment-divestment relationship: Resource shifts and intersubsidiary competition within MNEs

This paper examines the interdependencies between MNE investment and divestment decisions. We derive a conceptual framework of “segmented intersubsidiary competition” and hypothesize that the competitive pressure of new investments on existing subsidiaries varies by regional dimension. Based on a database of 3524 French MNEs, we analyse intersubsidiary competition and intertemporal adjustment processes of the investment-divestment relationship between 2002 and 2010. Our empirical findings support the theoretical notion of segmented intersubsidiary competition within MNEs: Foreign investments create competitive pressure for foreign subsidiaries to be divested in subsequent periods, where domestic investments spur divestment at home. Inversely, foreign divestments are more likely to create new investment opportunities in the foreign than in the domestic arena. Our differentiations between investments/divestments in EU countries and in non-EU countries shows that the competitive pressure of new investments on existing subsidiaries is mainly limited to the same region.     

外国直接投资与双边贸易关系中的国别差异

外国直接投资对国际贸易的影响一直是学术界普遍关注的问题。本文采用引力模型,对14个主要投资国1984年至2004年对华投资与双边贸易的关系进行了实证分析,发现我国引进的外国直接投资总体上促进了贸易的增长,但是各国直接投资对双边贸易的影响却有着明显差异。日本、美国、韩国、德国、我国台湾地区和我国香港地区的外国直接投资是贸易促进型的,我国澳门地区、马来西亚、加拿大、法国、澳大利亚、荷兰、英国和新加坡的外国直接投资是贸易替代型的。     

正式与非正式制度对中国吸引外商直接投资的影响--以引力模型为基础的实证分析

本文运用引力模型检验了中国的制度变量(正式与非正式制度)对中国吸引外商直接投资(FDI)的影响.实证分析结果表明,中国的关税水平、汇率和政策变量对中国吸引FDI具有正的显著影响,而中国的开放度和知识产权保护程度对中国吸引FDI具有负的显著影响.政府廉洁程度虽然与中国吸引FDI呈负相关,但在统计上却不显著.     

Analysis of government policies,institutions, and inward foreign direct investment: Evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa

This article examines the effects of government policies and institutions on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in sub‐Saharan African context using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. On the quantitative approach, we analyzed the effects of institutions on FDI using two statistical techniques—canonical cointegration regression (CCR) and fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS)—over the period of 1984–2012. We find that political instability, democratic accountability, and investment risk have significant impact on inward FDI in Nigeria. Using a trend analysis, our results provide evidence to suggest that liberal government investment policies have positive influence on FDI inflows. Our qualitative analysis over the 1962–2012 period supports the results of the quantitative analysis.     

外商直接投资对我国的工资效应分析——基于1997-2006年面板数据的实证研究

本文利用我国28个省1997-2006年的面板数据实证检验FDI对我国整体以及东部、中部、西部三大区域的工资差距效应和工资溢出效应,结论表明FDI增加了我国内外资部门之间的工资差距,对内资部门的工资溢出效应不显著。分区域来看,FDI显著增加了我国东部和中部地区内外资部门之间的工资差距,但对于西部地区的工资差距不具有显著影响;FDI对东部地区内资部门的工资水平具有正向溢出效应,对中部地区内资部门的工资水平溢出效应为负,对西部地区内资部门的工资溢出效应不明显。     

An Analysis of Double Taxation Treaties and their Effect on Foreign Direct Investment

Double taxation treaties (DTTs) are intended to eliminate double taxation and thereby increase foreign direct investment (FDI). DTTs are also meant to prevent tax evasion which previous literature argues has a negative effect on FDI. Using matching econometrics and a large data set of developed to less developed country-pairs, I show that despite their intentions and the significant costs of entering into DTTs, the treaties have no effect on the flows of FDI. An analysis of the treaties in conjunction with the related domestic tax legislation shows why this is the case. Developed countries unilaterally provide for the relief of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion regardless of the treaty status of a host country. This eliminates the key economic benefit and the risk that these treaties would otherwise create for the FDI location decisions of multinational enterprises.     

国外研究与开发(R&D)之溢出效果:基于我国1985-2005年的经验研究

在开放经济系统中,一国技术进步不仅取决于自身的研究与开发投入,也取决于国外的研究与开发投入。本文利用协整分析和误差修正模型,对国外研发对我国技术进步的影响效果进行了经验分析。结果表明,基于贸易渠道和外国直接投资渠道的溢出效应均对我国的技术进步起促进作用,并且贸易渠道的正向溢出效果与外国直接投资相比在逐渐加强。在此基础上提出了更好地吸收利用国外研发溢出效果的几点建议。     

我国对外直接投资区域选择分析

开展对外直接投资是我国在更高层次上参与国际分工、充分利用“两种资源”和“两个市场”的客观要求,加强对该领域的理论研究是十分必要的。本文着重探讨我国对外直接投资的区域选择问题。首先分析了我国对外直接投资区域分布的现状,第三部分从理论上论述了我国对外直接投资应选择哪些地区。分析表明,我国对外直接投资的区域选择应随投资目的的不同而不同,总的来说应开展全方位的对外直接投资,不同时期可以有不同的重点。     

我国对外直接投资比较利益的动态转换

我国对外直接投资中的境外投资近几年在数量和规模上发展很快,然而其中存在的问题也逐渐暴露出来,最为突出的问题是比较利益动态性未转换成动态化,也就是说没有充分体现出比较利益。本文认为要促进我国对外直接投资的健康快速发展,必须进行比较利益的动态转换,因而在对外投资中要遵循比较优势原则以期增加国际贸易收益。