Empirical analysis of the relationships between inward FDI and business cycles in Malaysia

Abstract

Globalization has been spreading macro economic effects around the world as well as fueling firms' cross-national activities. Are there any links between these two influences? This paper chose Malaysia as subject and examined the causal relationships between inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and business cycles. A set of models based on Granger Causality test and VAR Impulse Responses were constructed. Time-series data covered from 1970 to 2008. And the findings clearly indicated that in the case of Malaysia, there is evidence of bi-directional causality and long-run relationships between firms' (foreign) activities (inward FDI) and business cycle developments in a long term.