The paper opens by mapping the changes in the global auto industry in the 1990s, showing how the rapid growth in sales and production between 1990 and 1997 came largely from the emerging markets rather than the Triad regions (North America, the European Union and Japan). However, for some of...

Previously reported effects of institutional quality and political risks on foreign direct investment (FDI) are mixed and, therefore, difficult to interpret. We present empirical evidence suggesting a relatively clear, statistically robust, and intuitive characterization. Institutional factors...

We show that traditional gravity variables play a significant role in explaining trade flows related to global value chain participation. We find evidence that cooperation costs – measured by linguistic and geographical proximity – are more relevant for trade that reflects cross-border...

We explore the effect of foreign direct investment on economic growth in developing countries, distinguishing between mergers and acquisitions ("M&As") and "greenfield" investment. A simple model captures the key difference between the two types of FDI: unlike greenfield investment, M&As partly...

We assess drivers of FDI in a panel of BRICS and MINT countries for the period 2001-2011. We bundle and unbundle governance determinants using a battery of contemporary and non-contemporary estimation techniques. The following findings are established. First, for both contemporary and...

Over the past two decades, the growth rate of outward foreign direct investment (FDI) from developing and transition economies has increased significantly. Given the role of physical capital accumulation in determining the economic growth rate, it is important to assess how domestic investment...

Developing countries became less hostile to transnational service corporations (TNSCs), but many still confine TNSCs to selected industries and specific market segments. Given that services, and especially producer services, are inputs into other industries, the unintended effect of restrictions...

FDI in agriculture in developing countries is very small. It is not among priorities of most developing countries as regards FDI promotion and attraction. It is also not facilitated by often unresolved regulatory issues concerning access of investors to arable land. In addition, there a fewer...

International tourism is one of the largest export industries in a great number of developed and developing countries. In many of the latter it is the main source of foreign exchange revenues. The tourism literature tends to ascribe to transnational corporations (TNCs) and foreign direct...

The chapter summarizes 40 years of UNCTAD's research and policy analysis on the relationship between FDI and TNC activities and development. While during that period pros and cons of development strategies relying on inward FDI have oscillated in response to events in the world, it is now widely...