Title: Understanding Brazilian FDI – an investigation on the relationship between internationalisation and economic structure

Authors: Flavia Pereira De Carvalho, Ionara Costa, Geert Duysters

Addresses: UNU-MERIT, Keizer Karelplein 19, 6211 TC Maastricht, The Netherlands. ' UNU-MERIT, Keizer Karelplein 19, 6211 TC Maastricht, The Netherlands. ' Eindhoven University of Technology, Horsten 1, 5612 AX Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Brabant Center of Enterpreneurship, University of Tilburg, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands; UNU-MERIT, Keizer Karelplein 19, 6211 TC Maastricht, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper analyses the Brazilian trajectory of foreign investments, exploring the links by which economic structure has shaped the competitive advantages of Brazilian firms investing abroad. We apply the investment development path (IDP) framework proposed by Dunning, which provides the tools to explain a micro phenomenon with macroeconomic evidence. From this departing point, the paper aims to shed light on some aspects of the country|s structure and recent events that had impact on the economic sphere, in order to further explain the position that Brazil holds in its IDP graph.

Keywords: economic development; foreign direct investment; FDI; developing countries; multinational corporations; MNCs; investment development paths; economic structure; internationalisation; Brazil; competitive advantage; micro phenomena; macroeconomics; John Dunning; business environment; emerging markets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2010.037598

International Journal of Business Environment, 2010 Vol.3 No.4, pp.393 - 411

Published online: 20 Dec 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article