Thailand has been one of significant recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) among
developing countries over the last 30 years, and has recorded rapid and sustained growth
rates in a number of different industrial categories. Thailand has shown a clear policy
transition for foreign investment over time from an import-substitution regime to an
export-oriented regime. Before the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (1985-1996), Thailand had
the fastest growing level of exports in manufactured goods among Asian economies. FDI
plays a significant role in the Thai economy. Thailand has been pursuing different foreign
investment policies at different times depending on the development objectives and
economic situation in the country.
The main objective of this research is to evaluate the determinants of FDI and foreign
portfolio investment (FPI) in Thailand using the extended Gravity Model. Panel data is
used to estimate and evaluate the empirical results based on the data for the years 1980 to
2004. It also examines the FDI flows between different locations and their geographical
distances in Thailand. The primary research question addresses what factors motivate,
attract, and sustain the FDI and FPI in Thailand. In addition, this study also examines the
effects of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis on the inflows of FDI and FPI into Thailand.
The results show that the inflows of FDI in Thailand, which are supply-driven, are
significantly influenced by its 21 largest investing partners. The 1997 Asian Financial
Crisis has no impact on the determinants of the inflows of FDI into Thailand, but positively
influences the inflows of FPI into Thailand. Our results also show that increases in GDP
and trade between investing partners and Thailand potentially attract more FDI and FPI
into Thailand. Investing partners closer to Thailand draw more portfolio investment into Thailand than distant partners emphasising that distance has a negative impact on the
portfolio investment but a negligible impact on the FDI.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/183542 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Thanyakhan, Sutana |
| Publisher | Lincoln University. Commerce Division |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | PhD doctorate |
| Rights | http://theses.lincoln.ac.nz/rights.html, Copyright Sutana Thanyakhan |
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