Does Foreign Direct Investment Boost the Productivity of Domestic Firms?

The impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on development is a much-debated topic. Over decades, many international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the IMF, have increasingly promoted FDI. However, on the other hand, many NGOs, labor unions and civil society groups have emphasized the negative effects of FDI. Thus, to answer this question, we should always consider both of the pros and cons of FDI.

Foreign direct investment by multinational corporations is the action of obtaining controlling equity share of a firm in a foreign country. There has been many discussions about the role of FDI in affecting a country’s unemployment rate and economic growth. Of which many believed

Haskel, J.E., Pereira, S.C. & Slaughter, M.J. (2007) “Does inward foreign direct investment boost the productivity of domestic firms?”, Review of Economics & Statistics, 89 (3), August, pp. 482–496. [Online] Available at:

Using examples and case studies discuss and evaluate the impacts of foreign direct investment on host country economies.

Inward foreign investment is believed to boost the economic growth of host countries directly through employment creation and capital formation, and indirectly through knowledge, technology, and information spillovers. Multinationals have superior technologies, technical know-how, and managerial and marketing experiences than domestic firms. Similarly, exporting firms, domestic or foreign, have advantages over non-exporting firms regarding access to advanced technologies that are more productive and efficient. However, multinationals and exporters may not fully internalize the benefits of these assets. The benefits may spillover to domestic and non-exporting firms through market interactions, competition, and public nature of the assets.

To attract FDI, corporate tax incentives has been used worldwide, as FDI significantly boost up the productivity and the growth of economic. The reason why China has become the most attractive destination of FDI is that its FDI policies, huge labour supply and low cost of it, stable economic and political environment. (Deng et al., 2007). FDI inflows into China

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a venture made by an organization or element situated in one nation, into an organization or substance situated in an alternate nation. Outside immediate ventures vary generously from aberrant speculations, for example, portfolio streams, wherein abroad establishments put resources into values recorded on a country's stock trade. Elements making immediate ventures commonly have a huge level of impact and control over the organization into which the speculation is made. Open economies with talented workforces and great

Foreign direct investment plays a critical role in financing the development of emerging economies. Foreign direct investment benefits countries through a transfer of resources in the form of capital, technology, management of resources, creation of work opportunities, and a positive impact on the country’s balance sheet, typically through an increase in export volumes. These benefits are essential for sustainable growth and development of a country, especially for developing countries. Despite the important role that foreign direct investment plays in helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, many developing countries face challenges in accessing this source.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been considered important for the growth of a country. When the individuals or companies from a country invest in another country, it is regarded as FDI. FDI not only strengthens the manufacturing base of the host country but also contributes to the strengthening of the economic outlook. FDI can be seen as an investment that leads directly to job creation in an economy. The unemployment rate decreases due to FDI, which leads to stability in economic, social and political spheres. This leads to establishing the notion that FDI is necessary for a country because it helps in strengthening the economy of a particular country. Ireland has been benefitted by

The correlation between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth is well documented see (Borensztein, De Gregorio, J-W. Lee 98). Even though there has been an extensive amount of research, which includes both FDI and economic growth, there still seems to be a substantial divide between the results; which are concluded within these papers. To begin in this research paper we will define foreign direct

“The last fifteen years have seen an enormous growth of activity by multinational corporations, as measured by flows of foreign direct investment (FDI). FDI has grown much faster than either trade or income; whereas worldwide nominal GDP increased at a rate of 7.2 per cent per year between 1985 and 1997 and worldwide imports at 9.2 per cent, worldwide nominal inflows of FDI increased at 17.6 per cent.” (Shatz & Venables, 2000, p. 125)

FDI plays in the economic growth process of the host country. A good number of the studies and discussions show that there exists a strong correlation between FDI and economic progression. In addition to being an engine for diffusion of knowledge and transfer of technology, FDI also stimulates international trade, domestic investment, expands host nation 's domestic savings, and increases the host country 's foreign exchange reserves adjusting its Balance of Payment post. These factors increase the economic growth of the host nation.

Yousaf (2008) Analyses of more than 3 decades reveal that FDI has positive relation with imports in short & long-run where as relationship with exports is negative in short & positive in the long-run. FDI is an economic influencer of economy of a country specially developing countries experience accelerated GDP when successful in attracting FDI as in case of Pakistan.

(01)Size of the Market- Econometric studies comparing a cross section of countries indicate a well- established correlation between FDI and the size of the market. Some studies found GDP growth rate to be a significant explanatory variables, while GDP was not, probably indicating that where the current size of

The other benefit of foreign investment is that it boosts competition in the host economy and, thus, prompts local businesses to seek greater efficiency in their operations. Besides this these multinational firms promote local businesses which supply inputs and or render services needed by them to support their operations. As a result of this, there will be a multiplier effect in terms of creation of employment opportunities.