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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) into countries of the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on an econometric model that includes factors that potentially drive FDI flows into countries in the MENA region.FindingsEnergy endowments have a negative impact on FDI flows into a country. GDP per capita, openness to trade and oil prices have a positive impact on FDI inflows, while aggregate measures of environmental risk are not a differentiating factor among countries in the region.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates that the “Dutch disease” concept applies to FDI in resource rich countries in the MENA region. Countries with large amounts of oil and gas have are more likely to have policies and institutions that inhibit FDI. Countries that value the spillover effects from FDI need to reconsider legislative and institutional hurdles that remain.

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This study develops a two-dimension and multi-variable approach to investigate the competitiveness and dynamics of Chinese industries (products groups). The result reveals the orderly transformation of competitiveness across 97 Chinese industries. In order to determine the position of China's industries in the world market, we also investigate the competitiveness of the EU-15's industries using the same approach. The orderly transformation of competitiveness of Chinese industries is found to follow the current competitiveness pattern of the EU-15, which is in line with the orderly transfer of economic activities between developing and developed countries as predicted by theoretical models.

About half of China's overseas acquisition attempts have not been completed; the chance of success is much lower than worldwide. This study provides an overview of China's overseas acquisition, and investigates the reasons behind the low likelihood that an acquisition deal is completed. By using a sample that consists of 1,324 overseas acquisition attempts by Chinese firms, the study found that multi-level determinants influence the outcome of China's overseas acquisitions. Based on the findings, we conclude that the distinctive social and economic environment of acquirers; ownership and low competitiveness of these acquirers; lack of global experience; and sensitiveness of the industry all hamper Chinese acquisition deals.