The Cyclical Nature of North-South FDI Flows

34 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2011

See all articles by Eduardo Levy Levy-Yeyati

Eduardo Levy Levy-Yeyati

Universidad Torcuato Di Tella - School of Business

Ugo Panizza

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) - Department of Economics; CEPR

Ernesto Stein

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 2003

Abstract

In this paper, we examine how the business and interest rate cycles in developed countries affect FDI to developing countries. After aggregating flows into three big source areas (the U. S. , Europe and Japan), we find FDI flows to be countercyclical with respect to both output and interest rate cycles in the first two, whereas in Japan they display either no cyclical behavior or mild procyclical behavior. This finding is consistent with the fact that FDI outflows and local investment tend to move in opposite directions during the cycles in the U. S. and Europe, reflecting investors` arbitrage among different investment opportunities. In sum, and contrary to what is usually claimed, we conclude that recessions in industrial countries are likely to increase FDI flows, particularly to those countries with close ties with the U. S. and Europe.

Suggested Citation

Levy-Yeyati, Eduardo Levy and Panizza, Ugo and Stein, Ernesto Hugo, The Cyclical Nature of North-South FDI Flows (January 2003). IDB Working Paper No. 401, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1818690 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1818690

Eduardo Levy Levy-Yeyati (Contact Author)

Universidad Torcuato Di Tella - School of Business ( email )

Saenz Valiente 1010
C1428BIJ Buenos Aires
Argentina

Ugo Panizza

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) - Department of Economics ( email )

Geneva Avenue de la Paix 11A
Geneva, 1202
Switzerland

CEPR

London
United Kingdom

Ernesto Hugo Stein

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) ( email )

1300 New York Avenue, NW
Research Department
Washington, DC 20577
United States

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