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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 12th Annual Conference © 2011 IAABD<br />

capital flows (ma<strong>in</strong>ly foreign direct <strong>in</strong>vestments and foreign portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments). Their model expla<strong>in</strong>s<br />

why develop<strong>in</strong>g countries tend to attract FDIs whilst developed countries attract more FPIs, as well as<br />

why FPIs are subject to sharper reversals compared to FDIs amongst o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

The literature identifies both push and pull factors that determ<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> quantities <strong>of</strong> portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments.<br />

The pull factors are <strong>the</strong> factors that exist <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> host country that make it conducive and attractive for<br />

foreign portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestors to <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> that country. The push factors are factors external to <strong>the</strong> host<br />

country that entice foreign <strong>in</strong>vestors to <strong>in</strong>vest outside <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir home countries. The host country <strong>the</strong>refore<br />

has control over <strong>the</strong> pull factors as it can develop policies to ei<strong>the</strong>r encourage or discourage foreign<br />

portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments provided it knows <strong>the</strong> determ<strong>in</strong>ants <strong>of</strong> such <strong>in</strong>flows. Host governments have less<br />

control over <strong>the</strong> push factors s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong>se usually are not related to conditions <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> host country.<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to S<strong>in</strong>gh and Weisse (1998) <strong>the</strong> push factors <strong>in</strong>clude low <strong>in</strong>terest rates <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> United States,<br />

lower growth prospects <strong>in</strong> developed countries and <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g desire <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutional <strong>in</strong>vestors to<br />

diversify <strong>the</strong>ir portfolios. The pull factors on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> economic, legal, political and<br />

regulatory environments <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> host country. Baek (2008) studies <strong>the</strong> determ<strong>in</strong>ants <strong>of</strong> portfolio<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong> Lat<strong>in</strong> America and Asia. Their study explores <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> both pull and push factors <strong>in</strong><br />

expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se two regions. The results <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir study suggest that <strong>the</strong><br />

determ<strong>in</strong>ants <strong>of</strong> portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong> Lat<strong>in</strong> America are based more on pull factors. Portfolio<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong> Lat<strong>in</strong> America were found to be driven ma<strong>in</strong>ly by strong domestic economic growth and is<br />

pushed by global f<strong>in</strong>ancial factors but not changes <strong>in</strong> market sentiment. Portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong>to Asia<br />

however were based on external or push factors <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>vestors’ appetite for risk suggest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />

existence <strong>of</strong> ‘hot money’.<br />

Stock markets are important for several reasons. They enable companies to raise funds and allow<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestors to <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> projects which may have a longer horizon than <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>vestment horizon. This is<br />

because <strong>the</strong> stock market provides liquidity to such <strong>in</strong>vestors <strong>the</strong>refore promot<strong>in</strong>g sav<strong>in</strong>gs, <strong>in</strong>vestment and<br />

ultimately economic growth. Apart from <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> supply<strong>in</strong>g capital to an economy, stock markets have<br />

an important role <strong>of</strong> transmitt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation that is useful for creditors (Abor and Biekpe, 2006).<br />

Theoretically <strong>the</strong>refore stock markets at least <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> long-run should promote economic growth. Portfolio<br />

<strong>in</strong>vestments <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ory can lead to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> domestic stock market. Some proponents <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

f<strong>in</strong>ance-growth literature debate argue that stock market development can lead to economic growth. If this<br />

is <strong>the</strong> case, <strong>the</strong>n portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments can lead to more stock market development and <strong>the</strong>refore more<br />

economic growth. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Pal (2006), one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most important benefits <strong>of</strong> FPI is that it gives an<br />

upward thrust to domestic stock market prices which <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>the</strong> P/E ratios <strong>of</strong> firms and <strong>the</strong>refore<br />

lowers <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ance. The beneficial effects <strong>of</strong> FPI are crucially dependent on <strong>the</strong> assumptions that<br />

well function<strong>in</strong>g stock markets promote economic development and that <strong>in</strong>ternational portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestors<br />

are guided by economic fundamentals (Pal, 2006).<br />

Due to <strong>the</strong> fact that open<strong>in</strong>g up and liberaliz<strong>in</strong>g an economy used to be viewed negatively <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> past,<br />

several governments put <strong>in</strong> measures to deter capital flows especially portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments. Some <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>se factors <strong>in</strong>clude a differential treatment <strong>of</strong> foreign <strong>in</strong>vestors compared to resident <strong>in</strong>vestors. O<strong>the</strong>rs<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude a higher level <strong>of</strong> taxation on capital ga<strong>in</strong>s and dividends, restriction on tak<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>in</strong>vested funds,<br />

restrictions as to how much a s<strong>in</strong>gle foreign <strong>in</strong>vestor and <strong>the</strong> aggregate <strong>of</strong> foreign <strong>in</strong>vestors can <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> a<br />

s<strong>in</strong>gle company, restrictions as to <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>struments that foreign <strong>in</strong>vestors can <strong>in</strong>vest <strong>in</strong> amongst<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Demirguc-Kunt and Huiz<strong>in</strong>ga (1995) restrictions on portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments such as<br />

foreign ownership restrictions and restrictions on dividend and capital returns have generally been<br />

reduced. Demirguc-Kunt and Huiz<strong>in</strong>ga f<strong>in</strong>d that such restrictions <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> higher capital ga<strong>in</strong>s tax<br />

tend to <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> equity capital for domestic firms and <strong>the</strong>refore may hurt domestic companies.<br />

Therefore portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments can reduce <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> capital for domestic firms whilst restrictions on<br />

portfolio <strong>in</strong>vestments can serve to <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>the</strong> cost for domestic companies.<br />

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