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The Characteristics of FDI Activities Located in Different Host Regions — A Study Based on Firm-Level Data

Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics volume 151, pages 261–298 (2015)Cite this article

Summary

Based on a unique firm-level dataset for Swiss MNEs, this paper characterizes FDI activities located in different host regions. The characterization of the FDI activities is based on information on the parent companies, their foreign subsidiaries and the two-way trade flows between parent companies and foreign affiliates Concretely, the study provides econometric evidence based on multivariate probit estimates about the relationship between a firm’s choice of nine alternative host regions and the type of FDI (horizontal production-oriented, vertical production-oriented, distribution-oriented), a firm’s FDI experience and its capabilities for innovation, respectively. The estimation results indicate that there is low correlation between a firm’s capability for innovation and FDI experience, respectively, and the location of their FDI activities. Further, our estimates indicate large heterogeneity with respect to the type of FDI activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 21, CH-8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Spyros Arvanitis, Heinz Hollenstein & Tobias Stucki

Authors
  1. Spyros Arvanitis
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  2. Heinz Hollenstein
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  3. Tobias Stucki
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Correspondence to Spyros Arvanitis.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This article has greatly benefited from the guidance of the Editor, Volker Grossmann, and the comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers of this journal. The research has been supported by the Swiss State Secretariat of Economics (Seco).

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Arvanitis, S., Hollenstein, H. & Stucki, T. The Characteristics of FDI Activities Located in Different Host Regions — A Study Based on Firm-Level Data. Swiss J Economics Statistics 151, 261–298 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399418

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