The effects of FDI on voice and accountability in the MENA region

Abstract

Purpose

Several scholars, policymakers and international development agencies have been suggesting that trade and capital openness would bring better governance, in particular higher level of voice and accountability (VA), for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows on VA in the MENA region.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying two different panel models (fixed‐effects and dynamic), this paper uses related observations from 19 MENA countries between 2000 and 2008 to analyze the impacts of FDI inflows on VA.

Findings

The results reveal that FDI inflows do not contribute to the higher level of VA in the MENA region.

Originality/value

With no previous studies of the linkage between FDI inflows and VA in the MENA region, the paper makes a significant contribution in this regard.

Citation

Gholipour Fereidouni, H., Ariffin Masron, T. and Ekhtiari Amiri, R. (2011), "The effects of FDI on voice and accountability in the MENA region", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 38 No. 9, pp. 802-815. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068291111157258