A touch of sophistication: FDI and unit values of exports

Arbeitspapier

The debate on trade and growth increasingly focuses on the composition of exports. Exports of more “sophisticated” products appear to be positively correlated with growth, and upgrading the quality of exports is high on the policy agenda of many countries. This study presents evidence suggesting that attracting inflows of FDI offers potential for upgrading a country’s export basket. The empirical analysis relates unit values of exports measured at the 4-digit SITC level to data on sectors treated by investment promotion agencies as priority in their efforts to attract FDI. The sample covers 116 countries over the period 1984-2000. The findings are consistent with a positive effect of FDI on unit values of exports in developing countries. However, such a relationship is less evident in developed countries. These results suggest that FDI can help bridge gaps in production and marketing techniques between developing and high income economies.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 2865

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Trade: General ; Industrial Policy; Sectoral Planning Methods ; International Investment; Long-term Capital Movements ; Multinational Firms; International Business
• Subject: export quality ; unit values ; FDI ; investment promotion ; industrial policy ; Außenhandelsstruktur ; Produktqualität ; Direktinvestition ; Investitionspolitik ; Industriepolitik ; Technologietransfer ; Entwicklungskonvergenz ; Entwicklungsländer ; Industriestaaten ; Welt

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Harding, Torfinn ; Javorcik , Beata Smarzynska
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2009

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/30560
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET