Foreign Direct Investment for Development: Maximising Benefits, Minimising Costs

Foreign Direct Investment for Development represents the first comprehensive OECD study of the development dimensions of foreign direct investment (FDI). It is the result of extensive work and consultation by the OECD investment policy community represented by the Committee on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. It addresses a wide number of issues, among which:

• What is the impact of FDI on macroeconomic growth?
• What is the link with trade integration?
• How can FDI best contribute to technology diffusion and human capital formation in the local economy?
• Is FDI beneficial for sound competition, enterprise restructuring and corporate governance?
• How does it affect social and environmental performance of the host countries?
• What are the policy requirements to maximise the benefits and minimise the costs of FDI?

While possible drawbacks of FDI are reviewed, one of the main findings of the report is that the benefits generally outweigh the costs by a wide margin. Yet the benefits of FDI do not accrue automatically. Policies matter greatly for developing countries' ability to reap fully these benefits. The report reviews main areas for consideration by policy-makers, together with supporting actions from developed countries and the role of responsible international business.

Building on this work and other similar initiatives, the OECD is committed to engaging non-member countries and civil society partners in experience sharing and dialogue to enhance the role of international investment as a catalyst for poverty alleviation in the world as a whole.

For more information about the publication, download the overview in pdf format:

• English
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Spanish

This publication can be browsed our purchased online via the OECD Bookshop.