Publication Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

1-2018

Abstract

This paper builds a theory to characterize the comparative advantage of South-based MNEs rooted in institutional qualities. MNEs headquartered in countries of poorer state institutions are hypothesized to invest more in `informal institutions', and as an optimal response, undertake FDI in countries of weaker institutions, all else being equal. At the aggregate, MNEs generate more net profits in countries of weaker institutions, the poorer the institutional environment at home. Extensive tests of the theory are conducted using bilateral FDI volumes for 219 economies in year 2001--2010. The results indicate a statistically significant and robust institutional complementarity effect in bilateral FDI volumes.

Keywords

Informal Institution; Foreign Direct Investment; Gravity Equation

Discipline

International Economics

First Page

1

Last Page

39

Publisher

Singapore Management University, SMU Economics and Statistics Working Paper Series, Paper No. 04-2018

City or Country

Singapore

Embargo Period

1-28-2018

Share

COinS