What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)? FDI Advantages and Disadvantages (2024)

by Prasanna

FDI Advantages and Disadvantages: FDI is the acronym Foreign Direct Investment. It is a scheme used when any person or any business holds at least a 10% share of any foreign company.

In simple words, FDI is the investment made by any individual or firm in countries apart from the country of their origin.

When company investors own lower than a 10% rate, the IMF or International Monetary Fund describes it simply as part of a capital portfolio. Whereas a 10% rate holding in any company doesn’t give an exclusive investor any regulating interests in a foreign company, it only allows control over its administration, services, and overall policies.

Students can also find moreAdvantages and Disadvantagesarticles on events, persons, sports, technology, and many more.

FDI is crucial for the development and rise of market countries. Developing countries are in need of multinational funding and expertise for the expansion, structuring, and guiding of their international sales. These global companies require private investments in their foundation, energy, and water supply to hike such jobs and salaries for their members.

What is Meant by FDI? Advantages and Disadvantages of FDI

FDI stands for Foreign Direct Investment. As the name signifies, it is an investment scheme where any particular firm or any such individual makes an investment in one country (apart from their home country) into business interests located in another foreign country. Usually, FDI occurs when an investor sets up a foreign business operation, or they acquire a foreign business asset in any foreign company.

There are four main types of FDI, like the following:

  1. Horizontal FDI: The most well-known type is Horizontal FDI, which initially revolves around the investment of funds in a foreign company that belongs to the same industry and is either owned or operated by the FDI investor. In horizontal FDI, a company invests in a different company which is located in a foreign country, where both companies manufacture similar goods.
  2. Vertical FDI: Vertical FDI is another variety of foreign investments. A vertical FDI happens when a particular asset is made within a regular supply chain in a said company, which may or may not inevitably belong to the same industrial category. When a vertical FDI takes place, a business invests in a firm located that may provide or sell its products. Vertical FDIs can be further classified into two groups; such as forward vertical integrations and backward vertical integrations.
  3. Conglomerate FDI: When specific individuals or companies make investments in two entirely different companies belonging to completely different industries, the transaction is termed as a conglomerate FDI. As such, the FDI is not connected directly to the investor’s business or company.
  4. Platform FDI: The last type falling under foreign direct investment is called platform FDI. In the instance of a platform FDI, a business extends into a particular foreign country, but the commodities manufactured are exported to another different, third country.

What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)? FDI Advantages and Disadvantages (1)

Importance of FDI

FDI is integral to investment plans. The solution to foreign direct investment or FDI is the factor of control. Control depicts the intention of actively managing and influencing a foreign company’s operations, which is the primary differentiating determinant between passive foreign portfolio investment and an FDI.

Due to this reason, a 10% stake in the foreign company’s balloting stock is required to define FDI. But there are situations where this principle is not always implemented.

For instance, it is probable to exercise control over more broadly traded firms despite owning a lower percentage of voting assets.
Lists

  • The Advantages of FDI
  • The Disadvantages of FDI
  • Comparison Table for the Advantages and Disadvantages of FDI
  • FAQS on Pros and Cons of FDI

Advantages of FDI

  1. Boost in Economy: One of the major significant reasons a country (especially a developing nation) attracts foreign direct investment is due to the creation of jobs. FDI increases the production and services sector, which creates jobs and helps to decrease unemployment rates in the said country. Elevated employment explicates higher incomes and awards the population with added buying powers, advancing the overall economy.
  2. Human capital expansion: Human capital is concerned with the knowledge and subsistence of any workforce. Employees’ various skills gained through different training and practices can advance a particular country’s education system and human capital. Through a prolonged impact, it helps to train individual resources in other areas, trades and companies.
  3. Increased exports: Many assets produced by the FDI have global markets, and they are not solely based on domestic consumption. The production of 100% export-oriented segments helps to serve FDI investors in supporting exports from other foreign countries.
  4. Advanced Flow of Capital: The capital inflow is especially beneficial for countries with limited domestic resources and limited chances to raise stocks in the global capital market.
  5. Competitive Market: By promoting the entrance of foreign organizations into domestic markets, FDI advocates the creation of a competitive environment and breaks domestic trusts.

A solid competitive environment always shoulders firms to enhance their product contributions continuously, whereby promoting innovation. Consumers also earn access to a broader range of competitively valued products.

What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)? FDI Advantages and Disadvantages (2)

Disadvantages of FDI

  1. Impediment in domestic investment: At times, FDI can interfere with domestic investments. Due to FDI, countries’ local businesses begin losing interest in financing their household assets.
  2. Negatory exchange valuations: Foreign direct investments can seldom affect exchange rates to the benefit of one country and the disadvantage of another.
  3. More expensive costs: When investors invest in businesses in foreign counties, they may notice the increased expense than domestic exported goods. Frequently, more money is invested into motors and intellectual resources than in earnings for local workers.
  4. Financial non-viability: Acknowledging that foreign direct investments may be capital-intensive from the point of view of investors, they can at times be very dangerous or economically non-reliable.
  5. Modern commercial colonialism: Third-world with a history of colonialism is often troubled that foreign direct investment would end in modern economic colonialism, revealing host countries and leaving them defenseless to oppression by foreign companies.

FDI Advantages And Disadvantages In Tabular Form

AdvantagesDisadvantages
1. Capital Infusion and Job Creation1. Risk of Political Instability
2. Transfer of Technology and Skills2. Negative Effects on Domestic Firms
3. Increased Competition and Productivity3. Dependence on Foreign Investment
4. Access to New Markets and Resources4. Cultural and Legal Differences
5. Economic Growth and Development5. Possible Exploitation of Labor and Resources

Comparison Table for Advantages and Disadvantages of FDI

AdvantagesDisadvantages
FDI helps to boost the economy of a country.FDI can cause interference in domestic investments.
FDI aids in the expansion of human capital by subsistence of workforce.Sometimes, investments can result in negative values.
FDI facilitates trades in the global market allowing an increase in export.Foreign investments can be costlier than domestic investments.
Countries with limited domestic stock enjoy advanced capital inflow.Capital-intensive investments can be dangerous in some cases.
FDI builds a competitive share market of global standards.Mostly third-world or developing countries can cause modern-day colonial discrepancies leaving companies defenseless.

What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)? FDI Advantages and Disadvantages (3)

FAQ’s on Pros and Cons of FDI

Question 1.
What are the directions for the transfer of shares against deferred payment in the case of FDI?

Answer:
In the case of transfer of shares among a non-resident seller and a resident buyer or vice-versa, not higher than twenty-five percent of the gross consideration can be met by the buyer on a deferred basis, within a term not surpassing eighteen months from the day of the transfer agreement. The amount deferred can also be each in the form of an indemnity or an Escrow. In any case, the price guidelines must be complied with.

Question 2.
On which does FDI depend?

Answer:
On the de-segregated level, FDI depends on the size and also growth potential of any national economy, tangible resources endowments and spirit of the workforce, openness to global trade and admittance to international markets, and state of physical, fiscal, and technological foundation.

Question 3.
Is FDI a practical option for developing countries?

Answer:
Both the commercial theory and recent experimental evidence suggest that FDI has a beneficial impact on developing host nations. Policy recommendations for such developing countries should improve the financing atmosphere for all kinds of capital, whether domestic or foreign.31

What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)? FDI Advantages and Disadvantages (2024)

FAQs

What is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)? FDI Advantages and Disadvantages? ›

Goods produced through FDI may be marketed domestically and also exported abroad, creating another essential revenue stream. FDI also improves a country's exchange rate stability, capital inflow and creates a competitive market. Finally it helps smoothen international relations.

What is FDI and its advantages? ›

Goods produced through FDI may be marketed domestically and also exported abroad, creating another essential revenue stream. FDI also improves a country's exchange rate stability, capital inflow and creates a competitive market. Finally it helps smoothen international relations.

What are the disadvantages of foreign direct investment? ›

Disadvantages of Foreign Direct Investment in India
  • 1.1 Disappearance of cottage and small scale industries:
  • 1.2 Contribution to the pollution:
  • 1.3 Exchange crisis:
  • 1.4 Cultural erosion:
  • 1.5 Political corruption:
  • 1.6 Inflation in the Economy:
  • 1.7 Trade Deficit:
  • 1.8 World Bank and lMF Aid:

What is meant by FDI? ›

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a category of cross-border investment in which an investor resident in one economy establishes a lasting interest in and a significant degree of influence over an enterprise resident in another economy.

What are the advantages of direct investment? ›

Direct investors do not wish to take actions to undermine the value or sustainability of their investments. Other positive effects associated with inward direct investment include increased employment, improved productivity, technology and knowledge transfer, and overall economic growth.

What is an example of a FDI? ›

An example would be McDonald's investing in an Asian country to increase the number of stores in the region. Here, a business enters a foreign economy to strengthen a part of its supply chain without changing its business in any way.

What is FDI and how it works? ›

Any investment from an individual or firm that is located in a foreign country into a country is called Foreign Direct Investment. Generally, FDI is when a foreign entity acquires ownership or controlling stake in the shares of a company in one country, or establishes businesses there.

What is a foreign direct investment quizlet? ›

Foreign direct investment is the purchase of physical assets or a significant amount of the ownership of a company in another country to gain a measure of management control.

What are the motives of FDI? ›

According to this theory FDI are motivated by three advantages: Ownership advantages; Location advantages; Internalization advantages.

What are the two main types of FDI? ›

FDI can take two different forms: Greenfield or mergers and acquisitions (M&As).
  • greenfield investment involves the creation of a new company or establishment of facilities abroad. ...
  • mergers and acquisitions amounts to transferring the ownership of existing assets to an owner abroad.

What are three advantages of FDI quizlet? ›

Choose the three benefits of FDI to a home country.
  • Foreign subsidiary creates demand for home-country exports.
  • Inward flow of foreign earnings.
  • MNE learns skills from exposure to foreign market.

What is the advantage of foreign direct investment quizlet? ›

- FDI can lead to more competition in a market, contributing to lower prices for consumers as well as increased choice: thus raising living standards.

What are the risks of direct investment? ›

5 Direct Investment Risks — and How to Mitigate Them
  • Technology Risk. When it comes to investments in high-tech companies, a great deal of the company's success rides on a few programmers or the acceptance of a certain technology in the marketplace. ...
  • Market Risk. ...
  • Competitive Risk. ...
  • Management Risk. ...
  • Finance Risk.
Feb 3, 2016

What are two benefits of FDI to a home country? ›

There are many ways in which FDI benefits the recipient nation:
  • Increased Employment and Economic Growth. ...
  • Human Resource Development. ...
  • 3. Development of Backward Areas. ...
  • Provision of Finance & Technology. ...
  • Increase in Exports. ...
  • Exchange Rate Stability. ...
  • Stimulation of Economic Development. ...
  • Improved Capital Flow.
Jun 12, 2019

What affects foreign direct investment FDI? ›

A key factor in the desirability of investment are the transport costs and levels of infrastructure. A country may have low labour costs, but if there is then high transport costs to get the goods onto the world market, this is a drawback.

What is FDI in USA? ›

According to BEA, FDI in the United States is defined as the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by one foreign person, or entity, of 10 percent or more of the voting securities of an incorporated U.S. business enterprise or an equivalent interest in an unincorporated U.S. business enterprise.

Does the US have FDI? ›

The U.S. FDI stock in 2021 reached USD 13,619 billion.

How does FDI affect economic growth? ›

However, the higher productivity of FDI holds only when the host country has a minimum threshold stock of human capital. In addition, FDI has the effect of increasing total investment in the economy more than one for one, which suggests the predominance of complementarity effects with domestic firms.

What is the foreign investment risk? ›

As such, foreign investment risk (sometimes known as global investment risk) is defined as the degree of loss likely to occur when investing in countries outside of the United States.

What is the basic principle of FDI? ›

FDI is primarily a long-term strategy. Companies usually expect to benefit through access to local markets and resources, often in exchange for expertise, technical know-how, and capital. A country's FDI can be both inward and outward.

Which of the following is a risk problem associated with FDI? ›

Which of the following is a risk/problem associated with FDI? Firms must bear the cost of establishing a facility in a foreign country where rules of the game may be different. Some firms undertake foreign direct investment as a response to actual or threatened: trade barriers.

What is the difference between foreign direct investment and FDI? ›

FDI refers to the investment made by foreign investors to obtain a substantial interest in an enterprise located in a different country. FPI refers to investing in the financial assets of a foreign country, such as stocks or bonds available on an exchange.

What is foreign direct investment vs foreign investment? ›

Foreign portfolio investment is the purchase of securities of foreign countries, such as stocks and bonds, on an exchange. Foreign direct investment is building or purchasing businesses and their associated infrastructure in a foreign country.

Who is the largest source of FDI? ›

The United States recorded the largest increase of inward foreign direct investment of all economies in 2021.

What is the most common form of FDI? ›

Horizontal direct investment is perhaps the most common form of direct investment. For horizontal investments, a business already existing in one country establishes the same business operations in a foreign country.

What are the 3 components of FDI? ›

FDI has three components: equity capital, reinvested earnings and intra-company loans.

Who benefits from FDI? ›

FDI can foster and maintain economic growth, in both the recipient country and the country making the investment. On one hand, developing countries have encouraged FDI as a means of financing the construction of new infrastructure and the creation of jobs for their local workers.

What are the pros and cons of FDI vs licensing? ›

Licensing may not secure property, transaction costs are higher, and it only transfers explicit knowledge. FDI might place capital at risk but it reduces dissemination risk, provides tighter control over foreign operations, and it transfers tacit knowledge. the main advantage is more ownership and rights to profits.

What are the three potential costs of FDI to host countries? ›

The probable negative consequences of FDI on domestic competition, negative effects on the balance of payments, and the perceived loss of national sovereignty and autonomy are all potential costs of FDI to a host country.

What are the 3 disadvantages of active investment? ›

Disadvantages of active investing
  • Hard to beat professional active traders. ...
  • Most active traders don't beat the market. ...
  • It requires a lot of skill. ...
  • Can run up a big tax bill. ...
  • It requires a lot of time. ...
  • Investors often buy and sell at the worst times.
Mar 8, 2023

What is the disadvantage of investment? ›

Disadvantages of investment funds

Investing, wherever and whatever your profile, involves market risk. This risk is the possibility that the value of the asset may fall. For example, if you invest in a stock, that stock may lose value.

What is one of the disadvantages of return on investment? ›

What are the limitations of ROI? ROI ignores the time value of money. It also doesn't factor in different components to calculate the ROI. Moreover, it only measures the financial success of a project and doesn't account for the non-financial benefits of an investment.

Is high FDI good or bad? ›

Foreign direct investment is often seen as an economic blessing for developing nations. However, new research reveals that it stimulates resource depletion, while fostering dependency on the income generated from that depletion.

What are the 2 most known types of FDI? ›

FDI can take two different forms: Greenfield or mergers and acquisitions (M&As).
  • greenfield investment involves the creation of a new company or establishment of facilities abroad. ...
  • mergers and acquisitions amounts to transferring the ownership of existing assets to an owner abroad.

What are the top 5 FDI? ›

Sector-wise FDI Equity Inflows during April-September 2022

During the first half of this fiscal, Singapore emerged as the top investor. It was followed by Mauritius, the U.A.E., the U.S.A., the Netherlands and Japan.

What are the main benefits of inward FDI? ›

Advantages of inward investment
  • build new factories.
  • create millions of profitable jobs.
  • grow well-established operations.
  • fund research and development.
Apr 30, 2021

Is USA good for FDI? ›

The United States is the top destination of inward foreign direct investment. Source: IMF Data, Coordinated Direct Investment Survey. Note: Chart shows inward FDI positions.

Why is FDI high in the US? ›

The U.S. has the largest consumer market in the world, with a GDP of $20 trillion and 325 million people. Free-trade agreements with 20 other countries provide access to hundreds of millions of additional consumers. A strong and robust consumer market is a key reason the U.S. ranks top in the world for FDI.

How does foreign direct investment affect the economy? ›

However, the higher productivity of FDI holds only when the host country has a minimum threshold stock of human capital. In addition, FDI has the effect of increasing total investment in the economy more than one for one, which suggests the predominance of complementarity effects with domestic firms.

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