Inward Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Location Choice Determinants: Empirical Evidence from India

The main purpose of this research was to determine the nature of the relationship between inward FDI flow into India and selected sets of FDI location determinants. The paper also investigates the exact impact of the individual FDI location determinants on inward FDI flow into India. Following these objectives, eight variables relating to the inward FDI locational advantage theory were selected, with data running from 1965-2018. The investigated location determinants for inward FDI include tax, market size (GDP), a measure of market potential (GDPPC), human capital (education), wage cost, Ease of Doing Business (DB), and measure of economic progress (GDP growth). The method of data analysis involved the application of OLS regression, taking note of the necessary assumptions for the use of OLS. The results of the study indicate that GDP growth is the only significant FDI location determinant in India, with a positive impact of about 0.57. This implies that the Indian government should prioritise policies that seek to boost GDP

OUTWARD FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT OF CHINA’S BANKING SECTOR: DETERMINANTS AND MOTIVATIONS

The outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) is vital for the sustainable development of China’s banking sector. This paper examines the location determinants of OFDI by China’s banks during 2003–2015 with a set of negative binomial panel regression models. We show that the OFDI for China’s banking sector generally exhibits market-seeking, resource-seeking and efficiency-seeking motivations. The efficiency-seeking motivation is mostly through the incentive to avert credit risk. The OFDI also tends to flow to economically stable countries. Our results indicate that the Chinese banks’ investment decisions are mainly in line with fundamental theories and are robust for different samples and periods.

EXPLORING LOCATION DETERMINANTS OF ASIA’S UNIQUE BEVERAGE SHOPS BASED ON A HYBRID MADM MODEL

Identifying relevant location determinants is a good starting point for shop operators, help to increase profitability and, thus, avoiding business failure. Traditional Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) or the Analytic Network Process (ANP) have shortages that require improvement. Herein, Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), ANP based on DEMATEL (DANP), and modified Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (modified VIKOR) are used to construct a hybrid multiple-attribute decision making (MADM) model, encompassing three dimensions and thirteen criteria in exploring the location determinants of Asia’s unique Bubble Tea Shops (BTSs) and to evaluate three preselected alternatives in Nanjing, China. The empirical findings of the DEMATEL method reveal that traffic traits (D1) and site traits (D2) are critical to BTSs, and that once these are enhanced, shop traits (D3) are also improved. Criteria deemed as important, based on the DEMATEL and DANP methodology, are (in descending order): proximity to a street corner (C2), proximity to public transportation systems (C1), road width (C3), proximity to communities (C5), proximity to commercial areas (C6), types of shop (C9), and proximity to schools (C7). Different decision-making rankings among alternatives are indicated based upon the modified VIKOR method and corresponding strategies for improvement are presented.

A Literature Review on the Location Determinants of FDI

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is an important force to promote economic growth and social development in both developed and developing countries, while the distribution of FDI in the world and within countries is extremely uneven. This paper systematically summarizes the main determinants that affect the location choice of FDI in recent theoretical and empirical studies, including institution and investment environment, trade cost and industrial agglomeration, market size and natural resource, cultural distance and social network. Based on the work of this paper, it is helpful to better understand the location preference of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in FDI activities, and provide a reference basis for the host country to attract investment and promote economic growth.

Guests’ assessment of hotel facilities and services: Zadar case study

The availability of hotel facilities and services and their quality are one of the most important factor in selection of a tourist destination. The aim of the article was to analyse the impact of hotel location factors, prices of hotel services and detailed assessments of hotel services provided by the hotel on the overall rating of the hotel. As a case study, Zadar – a city located in the northern part of the Dalmatian coast of Croatia – was used to analyse the problem. The location determinants of hotels and their equipment were assessed in relation to the price of accommodation and tourists’ evaluation of the basic components of hotel services. The analysis used data obtained from the Booking.com website for accommodation prices, including selected days of the high and low season, data on the number of opinions about the object and the rating of the object by guests in terms of the overall opinion about the object, its location conditions, the standard of services rendered, cleanliness, comfort, evaluation of staff work, access to Wi-Fi network and assessment of services rendered in relation to the price of the service. The obtained results indicate hotel location, especially its distance from the city centre, railway station and airport and evaluation of chosen elements of customers’ hotel evaluation are most significant determinants of choosing accommodation for tourists.

Does the level of human capital matter for FDI in the Western Balkan countries?

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of human capital, as location determinant for the foreign direct investment (FDI) decisions in the Western Balkan Countries between 2008 and 2016. Apart from the human capital indicators, several location determinants were used as control variables. The hypothesis has been tested by employing correlation and regression analysis. The empirical findings revealed the positive impact of primary education and the negative impact of tertiary education on the inflows. The analysis showed that political stability and control of corruption are more important location determinants than human capital. Therefore, the policy measures should be directed towards the improvement of institutional framework and creating a supporting environment for the FDI inflows.

The OLI Paradigm as a comprehensive model of FDI determinants: a sub-national approach

PurposeThis study aims to advance a sub-national perspective within the OLI Paradigm by analyzing how and to what extent the Eclectic Paradigm can serve as a general model to capture region-specific aspects of the location determinants of FDI, encompassing institutional effects that extend beyond the quality of institutions.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a systematic literature review of 41 selected papers published between 1990 and 2019. Using inductive content analysis, they investigated the theoretical choices used to support analyses of the effects of institutional factors on MNEs' location decisions at the sub-national level.FindingsIt was found that, when changing from the national to the sub-national level of analysis, there is no need to change the main assumptions used in the literature, although a different perspective must be adopted. The Eclectic Paradigm permeates most of the studies revised and can serve as a general model to capture the sub-national perspective. It offers a foundation for new perspectives on the dynamics of institutional and political factors and their effects on location strategies and determinants at the sub-national level. Adopting the OLI Paradigm with a sub-national approach could widen the IB literature's prevailing focus on traditional economic factors and institutional quality.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors contribute to extant International Business literature Their paper enhances the literature on FDI location determinants by providing a more specific approach to development of a sub-national perspective within the OLI Paradigm, extending the institutional effects to capture more region-specific factors influencing the location of FDI. Study limitations are related to our analytical focus on the location dimension, excluding motives for FDI or firm-level location strategies. Rather than limiting analysis to quantitative studies, future research that includes qualitative studies and also covers the other dimensions of the OLI Paradigm could open additional new research avenues for advancing the sub-national perspective within the field of IB.Practical implicationsThe authors’ main findings suggest that MNEs' location strategies should include a sub-national perspective, which means that firms need to assess different levels of the location and understand their interaction with nationwide constraints and limitations, as it may affect firms' ability to effectively conduct their value-adding activities. They also contribute elements that can support sub-national governments' actions and policies aiming to enhance locational advantages to attract and retain FDI.Originality/valueThis review specifically analyzes the location determinants of FDI at the sub-national level, in studies published in a broad set of journals, from a variety of fields, prioritizing articles that investigate sub-national institutional determinants. The authors derive implications for the International Business literature and propose that the sub-national dimension should be incorporated into the Eclectic paradigm in order to better understand the influence of institutional sub-national determinants.

Identification of a New Industrial Area Based on a Macro-Level Analysis – a Case of Bokaro District, Jharkhand, India

Locating a new industrial area involves a strategic decision that covers several criteria with consideration for socio-economic benefits and environmental sustainability alongwith technical, and political issues. These different criteria are described using a number of indicators in terms of quantity and quality with some possible uncertainty. Decision making thus requires appropriate tools for data collection, analysis and knowledge management to address this multidisciplinary situation. This paper tries to find out the comprehensive method for industrial site location, a sustainable approach for finding the most suitable solution. Identifying the location determinants and site suitability models used for allocating an industrial site is observed to be an essential aspect of siting of industry, as such; level of decision making is dependent on predefined constraints. Multicriteria decision making method (M.C.D.M) seems to be a consistent and efficient solution which forms the basis for locating multiple sites for industrial activity in any delineated area.