An Analysis of The Relation Between Foreign Direct Investment and Sociopolitical Variables in MENA Countries by Panel Regression

Abstract

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays the role of an accelerator for the economic growth in host countries. Countries that provide the suitable environment economically and politically get ahead in this race. Over the last five years, the weighted importance of sociopolitical variables in the decision-making process has increased. The countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, although they have a potential to develop, are regarded as country groups that have not yet fully achieved this. This article reveals and interprets the relationship between FDI and sociopolitical variables such as political risk, human development index, terrorism risk index, multidimensional poverty index, the rule of law, regulatory quality, and control of corruption, utilizing panel regression analysis. In the analysis of the MENA countries covering the years 2010-2016, it was concluded that all independent variables except the human development index and multidimensional poverty index were statistically significant and effective on FDI.