Institution and foreign direct investment (FDI) : survey of the literature

In this paper, I survey the current literature relating to the relationship between the institution and foreign direct investment (FDI). In doing so, I have comprehensively analyzed two most recent paper written by Busse and Hefeker (2007) and Daude and Stein (2007). Both articles have used a difference econometric methodology, explanatory variables and institutions measurement in order to link whether institution variables matter or not in influencing the behaviour of foreign investors, in particular from Multinational Enterprise (MNE’s). Based on these papers, they found that a better institution in term of government stability, investment profile, internal and external conflicts, law and order, democratic accountability and bureaucratic quality are pre-requisite for promoting the investment from MNE’s. Therefore, the policy makers have to maintain a sound institution in order to take advantage the inflow of foreign investment. However, I argued that a sound institution is an inadequately in explaining the behaviour of MNE’s. A good interaction between institutional variables and other macro variables such as a well-developed financial system, favourable growth performance, high trade openness, excellent infrastructure development, low country risk as well as an attractive fiscal and monetary incentive are also vital in stimulating the inflow of FDI to the host countries.