Foreign Direct Investment as an Instrument of Growth : The United States and China’s Strategic, Economic and Global Roles (Part I)

Whilst remarkable developments are changing the landscape of industries such as natural gas in North America, and the United States continues to retain its position as a leading Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) resource, “China has strengthened its position as one of the leading sources of FDI, and its outflows are expected to surpass its inflows within two years. During 2013, FDI outflows swelled by 15 per cent, to an estimated $101 billion, the third highest in the world.”This paper considers developments which have taken place over the years and how China has gradually played a strategic, economic role in facilitating growth and development on a global scale – particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 Financial Crisis. From this perspective, challenges faced by other leading economies will be considered and the paper will aim to highlight how China has weathered the storm in the face of global economic challenges. It will also consider the implications of developments in the natural gas industry in the United States, and how this is likely to impact other areas of Foreign Direct Investment