Foreign direct investment is an important topic in economic research. FDI occurs when a firm invests in a foreign country. The purpose of this thesis is to empirically analyze the effects of FDI on the economic growth of the selected sample of twenty-one OECD countries. The thesis is based on a theoretical model of cross-country regressions and a panel data technique methodology was followed. The results of the time-period 1998-2017, show a direct positive impact of FDI on GDP per capita growth, namely economic growth. Moreover, it was found a lack of complementarity between FDI inflows and human capital, and a negative dependency between FDI inflows and institutions such as private sector credit.

The purpose of this paper is to build a model that incorporates current data of Africa, both regarding risks and opportunities into a strategic framework that should enable a more informed foreign direct investment decision for multinational enterprises (MNEs). The parameters used in the model were carefully chosen as determinants to foreign direct investment (FDI) based on extensive literature reviews. The model currently covers 101 major cities in 40 African countries. The model calculates and ranks indexes of African cities in terms of prospective investment opportunities. It is a general model with the flexibility of adapting to the user’s specific needs, since they can be highly heterogeneous depending on the industry and the type of to FDI considers. To test the validity of the model, standardized weights were used and the results were compared to current reports of FDI inflows to Africa. The results given by the model were to some extent compliable with the result of current FDI inflows, which thereby can be seen as sign of validity.

This thesis complements current studies by focusing on developed OECD countries as they are the major sources and recipients of world FDI and current studies relating to developed countries using aggregate country FDI data are limited. This study empirically tests the determinants of FDI inflows and outflows and their relationship with economic growth using 2SLS simultaneous equations model between 1981 and 2008 for a sample of 20 developed OECD countries. The empirical findings suggest that FDI inflows do not contribute to economic growth in the host country and economic growth positively affects FDI inflows. In addition, trade openness and flexible employment protection legislation in the host country attract FDI inflows. In terms of FDI outflows, the results show that FDI outflows reduce economic growth in the home country, while economic growth in the home country increases FDI outflows. Moreover, high past level of outward FDI stock, trade openness, low labour cost and currency depreciation in the home country provide incentives for domestic firms to invest abroad. Therefore, this study does not support offering special incentives to foreign investors to attract FDI inflows or offering promotional policies to domestic firms to encourage FDI outflows. Instead, government should provide incentives for domestic investment and other sound policies to increase economic growth, which in itself provides a good environment to attract FDI inflows and to encourage FDI outflows. Keywords: FDI inflows, FDI outflows, two stage least squares simultaneous equations, economic growth, labour market flexibility.

This thesis complements current studies by focusing on developed OECD countries as they are the major sources and recipients of world FDI and current studies relating to developed countries using aggregate country FDI data are limited. This study empirically tests the determinants of FDI inflows and outflows and their relationship with economic growth using 2SLS simultaneous equations model between 1981 and 2008 for a sample of 20 developed OECD countries. The empirical findings suggest that FDI inflows do not contribute to economic growth in the host country and economic growth positively affects FDI inflows. In addition, trade openness and flexible employment protection legislation in the host country attract FDI inflows. In terms of FDI outflows, the results show that FDI outflows reduce economic growth in the home country, while economic growth in the home country increases FDI outflows. Moreover, high past level of outward FDI stock, trade openness, low labour cost and currency depreciation in the home country provide incentives for domestic firms to invest abroad. Therefore, this study does not support offering special incentives to foreign investors to attract FDI inflows or offering promotional policies to domestic firms to encourage FDI outflows. Instead, government should provide incentives for domestic investment and other sound policies to increase economic growth, which in itself provides a good environment to attract FDI inflows and to encourage FDI outflows. Keywords: FDI inflows, FDI outflows, two stage least squares simultaneous equations, economic growth, labour market flexibility.