Should Countries Engage in a Race to the Bottom? The Effect of Social Spending on FDI

R. Douglas Hecock and Eric M. Jepsen

World Development, 2013, vol. 44, issue C, 156-164

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of social spending in developing countries on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Existing studies on the race to the bottom in social services attempt to discern the extent to which FDI affects social expenditure. However, it remains an open question whether FDI is actually attracted to lower spending levels. We find no indication that FDI is repelled by social spending; indeed there is strong evidence that investment is associated with greater programmatic emphases on health and education. These findings have important implications for leaders seeking to attract investment and for those attempting to expand social programs.

Keywords: foreign direct investment; social spending; human capital; education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:44:y:2013:i:c:p:156-164

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.10.016

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