It is argued in this paper that China has invested heavily in the Hong Kong economy to build trust in its intentions to maintain the present course of economic policy. The investments have the character of hostages because their payoffs depend on a functioning Hong Kong economy. This increases...

It is argued in this paper that China has invested heavily in the Hong Kong economy to build trust in its intentions to maintain the present course of economic policy. The investments have the character of hostages because their payoffs depend on a functioning Hong Kong economy. This increases...

We develop a formal model that looks at the mutually endogenous determination of foreign direct investments in natural resource-rich countries, the decision of host governments to expropriate these investments, and the level of corruption. Higher resource production makes expropriation more...