The Regional Impact of Bilateral Investment Treaties on Foreign Direct Investment

Arjan Lejour, Maria Salfi

Research output: Working paperDiscussion paperOther research output

260 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We examine the impact of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) on bilateral FDI stocks using extensive data from 1985 until 2011. We correct for endogeneity using indicators for governance and membership of international organisations. We find that ratified BITs increase on average bilateral FDI stocks by 35% compared to those of country pairs without a treaty. Upper middle income countries seem to benefit the most from ratified treaties whereas high income countries with high governance levels do not profit at all. In addition, lower middle and low income countries experience significantly larger inward FDI stocks from partner’s countries. Distinguishing by region, we find that ratified BITs increase FDI stocks mainly in East Asia and Middle & Eastern Europe.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationThe Hague
PublisherCPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis
Number of pages40
ISBN (Print)9058336735, 9789058336736
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameCPB discussion paper
Volume298

Keywords

  • Auslandsinvestition
  • Internationales Investitionsrecht
  • Entwicklungsländer
  • Räumliche Wirkung

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Regional Impact of Bilateral Investment Treaties on Foreign Direct Investment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this