Foreign Direct Investment as a Signal

Koska, Onur A. and Long, Ngo Van and Staehler, Frank (2015): Foreign Direct Investment as a Signal.

Abstract

This paper models competition among multinational firms in an environment of firm heterogeneity, incomplete cost information and strategic interaction. In this context, FDI serves as a signal of productivity: when firms sort into exporters and multinationals, they also show whether they have low or high productivity. We show that the signaling effect of FDI increases the FDI incentive as firms would like to avoid sending a low productivity signal.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment; Trade; Firm Heterogeneity; Incomplete Information; Signaling
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business > F23 - Multinational Firms ; International Business

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