How to Catch Foreign Fish? FDI and Privatisation in EU Accession Countries

Bruno Merlevede and Koen Schoors

Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium from Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Abstract: In a partial adjustment framework the observed FDI stock is the result of two driving forces. First, the stock converges towards its equilibrium level, even without policy changes. Second, the equilibrium level itself is driven by changes in its determinants. By means of a dynamic panel data analysis we examine the determinants of investment by ‘old’ EU-members in ten countries of Central and Eastern Europe. We find a rapid adjustment towards equilibrium. Traditional variables, such as market potential, trade integration, and relative unit labour costs, are fairly stable as determinants of equilibrium FDI stocks in transition economies. Institutional development in all its forms is a robust determinant of the optimal level of FDI. The relationship between FDI and the privatization process is complex. Non-direct privatization schemes negatively affect the speed of adjustment towards the equilibrium, whereas current direct privatization strategies positively affect the equilibrium level of FDI. Privatization history increases equilibrium FDI, independently of the method applied.

Keywords: foreign direct investment; privatisation; partial adjustment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F20 F23 P33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2005-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-eec and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (42)

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Working Paper: How to Catch Foreign Fish? FDI and Privatization in EU Accession Countries (2005)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rug:rugwps:05/309

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