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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Abstract<br />

<strong>Challenges</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Era</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Globalization</strong><br />

Edited by Emmanuel Obuah<br />

Foreign equity portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestment flows and economic growth <strong>in</strong> Africa<br />

Elikplimi Komla Agbloyor, ekagbloyor@accamail.com<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> F<strong>in</strong>ance at <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Ghana Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School, Ghana<br />

Joshua Abor<br />

University <strong>of</strong> Ghana Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School, Ghana.<br />

Charles Komla Delali Adjasi<br />

University <strong>of</strong> Ghana Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School, Ghana<br />

Alfred Yawson<br />

University <strong>of</strong> Adelaide Bus<strong>in</strong>ess School <strong>in</strong> Australia<br />

In this paper, we explore <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> foreign equity portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestment flows <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> determ<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> economic<br />

growth <strong>in</strong> Africa. We use dynamic panel data estimation techniques with our sample cover<strong>in</strong>g 12 countries from<br />

1990 -2007. We first <strong>in</strong>vestigate whe<strong>the</strong>r FPI <strong>in</strong>dependently spurs economic growth. We do not f<strong>in</strong>d systematic<br />

evidence that FPI has promoted economic growth <strong>in</strong> Africa. Our f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs suggest that FPI does not have a<br />

statistically significant impact on economic growth. In various empirical estimations, after controll<strong>in</strong>g for several<br />

standard determ<strong>in</strong>ants <strong>of</strong> economic growth <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> literature, we do not f<strong>in</strong>d evidence that FPI has contributed to<br />

economic growth on <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ent. Next, we <strong>in</strong>teract FPI with f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets to explore whe<strong>the</strong>r good f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />

markets adequately <strong>in</strong>termediate FPI flows to spur growth. The results suggest that even after <strong>in</strong>teract<strong>in</strong>g FPI with<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets, f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets are not able to transform <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>significant impact <strong>of</strong> FPI <strong>in</strong>to growth. The<br />

results suggest that FPI flows though have been <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g are not sufficient to spur growth and that <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>kage<br />

between f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets especially <strong>the</strong> stock market and <strong>the</strong> real economy may be weak. This weak l<strong>in</strong>kage may<br />

expla<strong>in</strong> why f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets are not able to transform <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>significant effect <strong>of</strong> FPI <strong>in</strong>to growth.<br />

Introduction<br />

Economic growth has been paramount on <strong>the</strong> development agenda <strong>of</strong> Africa. Stakeholders <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ent are <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> economic growth. Government policies, <strong>the</strong><br />

reform programmes that have taken place on <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ent, and <strong>the</strong> assistance provided by <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

development agencies and Africa’s development partners have all been aimed at spurr<strong>in</strong>g economic<br />

growth on <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ent. The issue <strong>of</strong> growth has been important to all <strong>the</strong>se stakeholders because growth<br />

can lead to <strong>the</strong> transformation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se countries as well as <strong>the</strong> reduction <strong>of</strong> poverty on <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ent.<br />

Globally, most countries are promot<strong>in</strong>g equity <strong>in</strong>vestment flows compared to debt flows. This is because<br />

equity <strong>in</strong>vestment flows are viewed to be safer. The equity mix <strong>of</strong> foreign capital is made up <strong>of</strong> foreign<br />

portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments (FPI) and foreign direct <strong>in</strong>vestment (FDI). Portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestment flows represent<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> equity securities by foreign <strong>in</strong>vestors. FPI is usually dist<strong>in</strong>guished from FDI by <strong>the</strong> fact that<br />

whereas FDI usually leads to <strong>the</strong> foreign <strong>in</strong>vestor ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g significant <strong>in</strong>fluence or control this is <strong>of</strong>ten not<br />

<strong>the</strong> case with FPI. The guidel<strong>in</strong>e to measure control is 10% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vot<strong>in</strong>g equity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> receiv<strong>in</strong>g company.<br />

The 10% guidel<strong>in</strong>e is used by <strong>in</strong>ternational agencies and national governments for record<strong>in</strong>g purposes so<br />

that <strong>in</strong>vestments less than 10% are classified as FPI whilst those greater than 10% are classified as FDI.<br />

It is argued that FPI can provide needed capital to develop<strong>in</strong>g countries as well as contribute to <strong>the</strong><br />

development <strong>of</strong> domestic stock markets. Empirical evidence also suggests that FPI can be risky because<br />

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