Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?

Foreign direct investment serves as a cornerstone for economic development, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, where it brings crucial capital, technology, and expertise. Despite institutional challenges in many African nations, there is controversy over the effects of macroeconomic...

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Main Authors: Abdikafi Hassan Abdi, Ibrahim Abdukadir Sheik-Ali, Farhia Hassan Mohamed, Salman Sh. Adem Mohamoud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Cogent Economics & Finance
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23322039.2024.2416993
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author Abdikafi Hassan Abdi
Ibrahim Abdukadir Sheik-Ali
Farhia Hassan Mohamed
Salman Sh. Adem Mohamoud
author_facet Abdikafi Hassan Abdi
Ibrahim Abdukadir Sheik-Ali
Farhia Hassan Mohamed
Salman Sh. Adem Mohamoud
author_sort Abdikafi Hassan Abdi
collection DOAJ
description Foreign direct investment serves as a cornerstone for economic development, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, where it brings crucial capital, technology, and expertise. Despite institutional challenges in many African nations, there is controversy over the effects of macroeconomic variables and institutional quality on FDI flows within diverse economic landscapes. Given the persistent challenges faced by Africa’s least FDI-receiving countries, it is essential to focus on understanding the specific factors that hinder or promote FDI in these nations. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of macroeconomic stability and institutional quality on attracting foreign capital in 24 African economies from 2004 to 2022. Utilizing the pooled mean group (PMG) method, validated by the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) cointegration technique, the study findings indicate that GDP per capita and domestic investment positively enhance FDI in the long run. This highlights the importance of economic growth and local investment in attracting foreign investment. Institutional quality has also emerged as a significant long-run determinant of FDI. Additionally, currency depreciation is identified as crucial for sustaining increased FDI inflows in African countries. Conversely, trade openness and high inflation hamper FDI inflows in the long-run. Considering these findings, policymakers should focus on maintaining economic stability, improving governance, balancing trade openness, and stabilizing exchange rates.
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spelling doaj-art-514208ea6a4f473699e09ccb87c66e1c2025-08-20T01:54:16ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Economics & Finance2332-20392024-12-0112110.1080/23322039.2024.2416993Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?Abdikafi Hassan Abdi0Ibrahim Abdukadir Sheik-Ali1Farhia Hassan Mohamed2Salman Sh. Adem Mohamoud3Institute of Climate and Environment, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, SomaliaFaculty of Economics, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, SomaliaFaculty of Economics, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, SomaliaFaculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, MalaysiaForeign direct investment serves as a cornerstone for economic development, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, where it brings crucial capital, technology, and expertise. Despite institutional challenges in many African nations, there is controversy over the effects of macroeconomic variables and institutional quality on FDI flows within diverse economic landscapes. Given the persistent challenges faced by Africa’s least FDI-receiving countries, it is essential to focus on understanding the specific factors that hinder or promote FDI in these nations. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of macroeconomic stability and institutional quality on attracting foreign capital in 24 African economies from 2004 to 2022. Utilizing the pooled mean group (PMG) method, validated by the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) cointegration technique, the study findings indicate that GDP per capita and domestic investment positively enhance FDI in the long run. This highlights the importance of economic growth and local investment in attracting foreign investment. Institutional quality has also emerged as a significant long-run determinant of FDI. Additionally, currency depreciation is identified as crucial for sustaining increased FDI inflows in African countries. Conversely, trade openness and high inflation hamper FDI inflows in the long-run. Considering these findings, policymakers should focus on maintaining economic stability, improving governance, balancing trade openness, and stabilizing exchange rates.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23322039.2024.2416993FDIinstitutional qualitydomestic investmentexchange ratestrade opennessinflation rates
spellingShingle Abdikafi Hassan Abdi
Ibrahim Abdukadir Sheik-Ali
Farhia Hassan Mohamed
Salman Sh. Adem Mohamoud
Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?
Cogent Economics & Finance
FDI
institutional quality
domestic investment
exchange rates
trade openness
inflation rates
title Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?
title_full Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?
title_fullStr Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?
title_full_unstemmed Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?
title_short Drivers of FDI inflows in Africa: do trade openness, market size, and institutional quality matter?
title_sort drivers of fdi inflows in africa do trade openness market size and institutional quality matter
topic FDI
institutional quality
domestic investment
exchange rates
trade openness
inflation rates
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23322039.2024.2416993
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