Foreign direct investment and human capital in developing countries: a panel data approach

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Kheng, Veasna;Sun, Sizhong;Anwar, Sajid
Abstract

Theoretical studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between human capital and foreign direct investment (FDI). However, only a few available empirical studies have attempted to investigate this relationship simultaneously. Using country level panel data from 55 developing countries over the 1980–2011 period, this paper examines the interrelationship between FDI and human capital. Statistical analysis, based on simultaneous equations fixed effect estimation, reveals significant bi-directional causality between human capital and FDI, which suggests that FDI and human capital development policies need to be coordinated. FDI-led economic growth models may not be entirely suitable for all developing countries aiming to replicate the economic success of countries such as Brazil and China unless attention is also paid to human capital development through increased spending on education and training.

Journal

Economic Change and Restructuring

Publication Name

Economic Change and Restructuring

Volume

50

ISBN/ISSN

1574-0277

Edition

N/A

Issue

4

Pages Count

25

Location

N/A

Publisher

Springer

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1007/s10644-016-9191-0