Hynes, Kate (2014) Competing for Foreign Direct Investment Through Investment in Public Infrastructure. PhD thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Preview
PHD COMPLETED AND ACCEPTED (FINAL!).pdf
Download (1MB) | Preview
Abstract
In the first essay we examine optimal investment in public infrastructure when used to
attract foreign direct investment (FDI). We model a monopolistic multinational firm
that wants to establish its production plant in one of two prospective host countries
with segmented markets, hence there is no arbitrage between the markets. Preceding
the firm's location decision, the government of one of the prospective host countries
invests in public infrastructure, while the other prospective host government is policy
inactive. We identify country characteristics that make a government more likely to
use investment in public infrastructure to attract FDI. We find that countries with
a large market size, low social cost of public funds, large direct social benefits and
high effectiveness of public infrastructure are most likely to be successful in attracting
FDI into their jurisdiction by investing in public infrastructure. We also examine the
effect of trade liberalisation between the two markets on optimal investment in public
infrastructure. We find that a non-monotonic relationship exists between trade costs
and optimal investment in public infrastructure.
In the second essay we use a similar set-up as in the first essay. However, we now
explicitly introduce domestic firms into the model. Simultaneously to the MNE's location
decision, these firms, also benefiting from the investment in public infrastructure,
decide whether to remain producers for the domestic market only or to become exporters
instead. We show that, under certain conditions, a government that invests in
public infrastructure to attract foreign direct investment through manipulation, may
at the same time turn its domestic firms into exporters.
The third essay models a competition - for - FDI game between governments that use
different policy instruments: one government invests in public infrastructure, while
the other uses its corporate tax rate to entice foreign firms. We model a monopolistic
multinational firm, considering to set up a plant in one of two prospective host countries
with segmented markets. Governments set policies before the multinational chooses
its production location. Also, the government that invests in public infrastructure
determines its policy prior to the other government setting its corporate tax rate.
When governments compete, there is likely to be a \race to the bottom" in taxes and
a \race to the top" in public infrastructure investment.
In the final essay we set up a two-stage game in which two governments, competing
for FDI, both invest in public infrastructure and set corporate tax rates. We investigate
how public infrastructural investment affects tax competition. We assume that
investment in public infrastructure by one country may generate spillovers - positive
or negative - for the other country. When the infrastructure investment implies significantly
negative spillovers for competing host countries, the investing government will
strategically under-invest to ease tax competition, while it will strategically over-invest
when the spillovers are negative but small or when these are positive. We also examine
how two different forms of tax harmonisation affect investment in public infrastructure.
Tax harmonisation in the form of a minimum tax can eliminate strategic investment
in public infrastructure. While tax harmonisation in the form of a cooperative tax will
result in higher taxes. Furthermore, the level of investment in public infrastructure
will also be higher.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
---|---|
Keywords: | Foreign Direct Investment; Investment; Public Infrastructure; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics, Finance and Accounting |
Item ID: | 4865 |
Depositing User: | IR eTheses |
Date Deposited: | 07 Apr 2014 15:04 |
URI: | https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/4865 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
Repository Staff Only (login required)
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year