Information Externalities Affecting the Dynamic Pattern of Foreign Direct Investment
Author: Sayuri Shirai
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Published: 1994-04-01
Total Pages: 28
ISBN-13: 1451974647
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →The dynamic pattern of foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries shows a three-phase pattern. Despite government policies that promote it, initially the inflow of FDI is sluggish, followed by a period of considerable fluctuation before finally entering the stage of rapid growth. The paper explains the pattern through recourse to two concepts: the searching process of individual investors and the information externalities of investors in the aggregate. Policy implications that may serve to shift an economy of a developing country from small-scale FDI to one of rapidly expanding FDI are considered. As China is a clear example of this pattern, it has been selected to promote understanding of the process.