Domestic Effects of the Foreign Activities of US Multinationals

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Year: 2009
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Pages: 181-203

Authors (3)

Mihir A. Desai (not in RePEc) C. Fritz Foley (not in RePEc) James R. Hines (University of Michigan)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Do firms investing abroad simultaneously reduce their domestic activity? This paper analyzes the relationship between the domestic and foreign operations of US manufacturing firms between 1982 and 2004 by instrumenting for changes in foreign operations with GDP growth rates of the foreign countries in which they invest. Estimates produced using this instrument indicate that 10 percent greater foreign investment is associated with 2.6 percent greater domestic investment, and 10 percent greater foreign employee compensation is associated with 3.7 percent greater domestic employee compensation. These results do not support the popular notion that expansions abroad reduce a firm's domestic activity, instead suggesting the opposite. (JEL F23, H25, L25)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejpol:v:1:y:2009:i:1:p:181-203
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-02-02