Political Geography: Latin America / Topic: Foreign Direct Investment

Author:: Luís Afonso Lima and Octavio de Barros
Publication Date:: 08-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Abstract:: The internationalization of Brazilian companies is a relatively recent phenomenon. From 2000 to 2003, outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) averaged USD 0.7 billion a year. Over the four-year period 2004−2008, this average jumped to nearly USD 14 billion. In 2008, when global FDI inflows were estimated to have fallen by 15%, OFDI from Brazil almost tripled, increasing from just over USD 7 billion in 2007 to nearly USD 21 billion in 2008 (annex figure 1 below). Central Bank data put the current stock of Brazilian OFDI at USD 104 billion, an increase of 89% over 2003. Caution is in order about these figures, however, as in Brazilian outflows it is difficult to separate authentic FDI from purely financial investment under the guise of FDI. According to the most recent data, 887 Brazilian companies have invested abroad.
Topic:: Economics, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Foreign Direct Investment
Political Geography:: Brazil and Latin America

Author:: Michael Mortimore and Carlos Razo
Publication Date:: 08-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Abstract:: Despite the global crisis, outward FDI by Latin American firms grew by more than 40% in 2008. The picture for 2009 is less clear, due to the expected regional GDP contraction, falling commodity prices, and tightening credit markets. Nonetheless, the authors argue that many countervailing factors make Latin American investment more resilient in the crisis than other regions may be.
Topic:: Economics, International Trade and Finance, and Foreign Direct Investment
Political Geography:: Latin America

Author:: Lorenzo Cotula
Publication Date:: 06-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Abstract:: Over the past 12 months, large-scale acquisitions of farmland in Africa, Latin America, Central Asia and Southeast Asia have made headlines in a flurry of media reports across the world. Lands that only a short time ago seemed of little outside interest are now being sought by international investors to the tune of hundreds of thousands of hectares.
Topic:: Agriculture, International Trade and Finance, and Foreign Direct Investment
Political Geography:: Africa and Latin America

Author:: Michael Mortimore and Carlos Razo
Publication Date:: 08-2009
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Abstract:: Despite the current economic crisis, outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) by Latin American and Caribbean enterprises continued its upward trend in 2008 (annex figure 1). OFDI by firms in the region reached nearly USD 35 billion in 2008, an increase of 42% with respect to 2007 (ECLAC, 2009a). However, several of the factors that fostered such growth have recently changed, possibly affecting OF DI prospects for 2009. This Perspective briefly explores these changes and their potential effects on firms' investing behavior, as well as some important countervailing factors that may cushion the effects of the economic crisis on Latin American firms' investment plan.
Topic:: Development, Economics, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Foreign Direct Investment
Political Geography:: Latin America and Mexico

Author:: Luís Afonso Lima and Octavio de Barros
Publication Date:: 08-2009
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Abstract:: The internationalization of Brazilian companies is a relatively recent phenomenon. From 2000 to 2003, outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) averaged USD 0.7 billion a year. Over the four-year period 2004−2008, this average jumped to nearly USD 14 billion. In 2008, when global FDI inflows were estimated to have fallen by 15%, OFDI from Brazil almost tripled, increasing from just over USD 7 billion in 2007 to nearly USD 21 billion in 2008 (annex figure 1 below). Central Bank data put the current stock of Brazilian OFDI at USD 104 billion, an increase of 89% over 2003. Caution is in order about these figures, however, as in Brazilian outflows it is difficult to separate authentic FDI from purely financial investment under the guise of FDI. According to the most recent data, 887 Brazilian companies have invested abroad
Topic:: Development, Economics, International Political Economy, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Foreign Direct Investment
Political Geography:: Brazil and Latin America

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