SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL DETERMINANTS OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN SOUTH ASIA

Determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) is the key area of research in development economics. Earlier studies did not give due weight to the segregation of analysis across economic, social, and institutional factors for FDI. This study specifically attempts to explore the intervening role of social and institutional factors which affects the relationship between economic factors and inward FDI. For this purpose, three segregate models relating to economic, social, and institutional factors along with a composite model comprised of all these factors are taken into consideration in this study. Panel data utilized is related to South Asian countries from 2008 to 2016. In the light of Breusch-Pagan LM Statistics, Pooled OLS estimates are preferred for analyses. This study leads to the conclusion that in segregation analysis economic factors and institutional factors have an important role in attracting FDI, but social factors have no significant role in this regard. The intervening role of social and institutional factors is not found in this study. The only factors which are recognized in the composite analysis are economic. Enlarged market size having an efficient financial market with no inflationary pressure is found to be an economic environment in the South Asian region which is helpful for attracting FDI. The rule of law is not found to be an effective characteristic for inward FDI.