FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, HOST COUNTRY PRODUCTIVITY AND EXPORT: THE CASE OF U.S. AND JAPANESE MULTINATIONAL AFFILIATES

The literature on the transfer of technology from FDI to host country firms is growing rapidly. Most of the studies find that there are positive spillover effects from FDI flow to host country firms in advanced economies. The result for the case of FDI recipient developing economies is mixed. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role that foreign direct investment from the U.S. and Japan plays in affecting developing countries¡¯ productivity, and export. Trade and production dataset by industrial groups and disaggregated U.S. and Japanese FDI data are used to empirically test presence of spillover effects on labor productivity and export. The results of the study show that positive productivity effects from U.S. and Japanese FDI firms are not empirically supported for the case of sample developing countries. The presence of FDI firms from all source countries and the number of U.S. total FDI and U.S. manufacturing FDI firms increase exports of host countries to the rest of the world. On the other hand, productivity is enhanced by foreign portfolio investment, availability of skilled manpower, capital intensity of industries and the number of bilateral investment treaties signed by host countries. Official development assistance and official aid have significantly negative effect on host country productivity, value added and export.