Country Risks and the Investment Activity of U.S. Multinationals in Developing Countries /

This paper develops a simple real options model that demonstrates the role of country-specific risk and sunk costs in determining a multinational's choice between exports and foreign investment. The hypotheses from the model are tested for the distribution of capital expenditures by U.S.-owned...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lehmann, Alexander
Format: Journal
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 1999.
Series:IMF Working Papers; Working Paper ; No. 1999/133
Online Access:Full text available on IMF
Description
Summary:This paper develops a simple real options model that demonstrates the role of country-specific risk and sunk costs in determining a multinational's choice between exports and foreign investment. The hypotheses from the model are tested for the distribution of capital expenditures by U.S.-owned foreign affiliates in 29 developing countries during 1984-95. Political and economic risk ratings are identified as deterrents to foreign capital formation; scale economies, unit wage differentials, trade openness, and agglomeration effects are found to be stimulating. These findings provide an additional rationale for a multilateral investment agreement that could function as an agency of restraint.
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Physical Description:1 online resource (27 pages)
Format:Mode of access: Internet
ISSN:1018-5941
Access:Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students