Long abstract

About Statistics Publications & Documents Information by Country

Recording comprehensive, comparable and up-to-date statistics on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a prerequisite for economic analysis and policy making. The objective of the Benchmark Definition of Foreign Direct Investment is to provide detailed operational guidance on how FDI data should be compiled to meet internationally agreed standards. It reviews the main statistical concepts and definitions of FDI, the valuation of FDI flows and stocks and issues related to specific transactions and entities. Practical solutions are proposed and concrete examples are used wherever possible. The third edition of the benchmark definition, published in 1996, is fully in line with the fifth edition of the Balance of payments manual of the International Monetary Fund.