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Determinants of Chinese Direct Investments in the European Union

Author

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  • Christian Dreger
  • Yun Schüler-Zhou
  • Margot Schüller
Abstract
This paper analyses the determinants of Chinese direct investment (DI) in the European Union (EU). Evidence is based on panel Poisson models drawing on two investment monitors for individual projects. We distinguish between the numbers of greenfield investments (GIs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&As). The findings indicate that market size and trade relationships with China are the primary factors driving Chinese DI in the EU. In contrast, more business-friendly institutions do not foster DI. Chinese enterprises might be risk averse, in other words prefer to choose their activities in regions with less competitive markets. The striking difference between GIs and M&As is related to unit labour costs. Higher costs make the host country less attractive for the establishment of new firms, but do not affect the involvement in existing firms. The sectoral dispersion of Chinese DI in the EU has not changed much since the global financial crisis of 2008. Most relevant shifts have occurred in research and development (R&D), where low-income EU countries have gained in attractiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Dreger & Yun Schüler-Zhou & Margot Schüller, 2015. "Determinants of Chinese Direct Investments in the European Union," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1480, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1480
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    Cited by:

    1. Ni Gao & Johannes Schaaper, 2018. "Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in France: Motivations and Management Style," Post-Print hal-03255216, HAL.
    2. Bas Hooijmaaijers, 2021. "A comparative analysis of the role of the state in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean investment in the EU," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 427-444, December.
    3. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Anna Grosman & William L. Megginson, 2023. "A review of the internationalization of state-owned firms and sovereign wealth funds: Governments’ nonbusiness objectives and discreet power," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(1), pages 78-106, February.
    4. Fascia, Michael, 2019. "Working Paper Series," OSF Preprints s7fg9, Center for Open Science.
    5. Wasseem Mina, 2017. "The Race to the Top: Institutional Clusters and World FDI Shares," Working Papers 1136, Economic Research Forum, revised 09 2003.
    6. Junsong Wang & Yehua Dennis Wei & Bingquan Lin, 2021. "Functional division and location choices of Chinese outward FDI: The case of ICT firms," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(5), pages 937-957, August.
    7. Pareja-Alcaraz, Pablo, 2017. "Chinese investments in Southern Europe's energy sectors: Similarities and divergences in China's strategies in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 700-710.
    8. Dürr, Niklas S. & Rammer, Christian & Böing, Philipp, 2020. "Direktinvestitionen zwischen Deutschland und China aus einer innovationspolitischen Sicht: Studie im Auftrag der Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 8-2020, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    9. Ruilin Yang & Harald Bathelt, 2022. "China's outward investment activity: Ambiguous findings in the literature and empirical trends in greenfield investments," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(1), pages 313-341, March.
    10. Duncan Freeman, 2017. "Redistributing the EU-China economic relationship: the role of domestic change in China," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 187-198, June.
    11. Knoerich, Jan & Vitting, Simon, 2021. "The distinct contribution of investment promotion agencies’ branch offices in bringing Chinese multinationals to Europe," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    12. Lili Pan & Lin Wang & Qianqian Feng, 2022. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Risk Management in Foreign Direct Investment: Insights and Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    13. Paul J.J. Welfens, 2016. "EU-Osterweiterung: Anpassungsprozesse, Binnenmarktdynamik und Euro-Perspektiven," EIIW Discussion paper disbei216, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    14. Adolfo Maza & Paula Gutiérrez-Portilla, 2022. "Outward FDI and exports relation: A heterogeneous panel approach dealing with cross-sectional dependence," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 170, pages 174-189.
    15. Mohammad Razib Hossain, 2021. "Inward foreign direct investment in Bangladesh: Do we need to rethink about some of the macro-level quantitative determinants?," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 1-23, March.
    16. Paul J.J. Welfens, 2016. "Qualitätswettbewerb, Produktinnovationen und Schumpetersche Prozesse in internationalen Märkten," EIIW Discussion paper disbei220, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    17. Ling Feng & Lulan Ge & Zhiyuan Li & Ching‐Yi Lin, 2022. "Financial development and natural resources: The dynamics of China’s outward FDI," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(3), pages 739-762, March.
    18. Mico Apostolov, 2017. "The impact of FDI on the performance and entrepreneurship of domestic firms," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 390-415, December.
    19. Andonova, Veneta & Losada-Otálora, Mauricio, 2020. "Understanding the interplay between brand and innovation orientation: Evidence from emerging multinationals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 540-552.
    20. Flora Rencz, 2023. "The determinants of Chinese foreign direct investment in the European Union," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 331-349, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    China FDI; Greenfield investments; mergers and acquisitions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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