INCONSISTENCIES IN ICSID AWARDS ON DISPUTES RELATED TO MFN AND UMBRELLA CLAUSE

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-264
Author(s):  
Herliana Herliana

Investment arbitration has been acclaimed as an important part of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) movement around the globe because it provides a neutral and trustable forum for settling investment dispute. However, many argue that investment arbitration often becomes advocates of foreign investors and neglect the developing country’s interests as the host of investment. This paper aims at studying the investment arbitration awards rendered by International Center for Settlement of Investment Dispute (ICSID) tribunals launched against developing countries. The question is whether and to what extent those awards have equally observed the interests of foreign investors and host states of investments. To answer the questions, this paper employs case study method and use publicly available ICSID cases. This research shows that some ICSID tribunals have inconsistent reasoning which led to contradictory decisions. Apparently, as some cases indicate ICSID tribunals gave more weight to the need to protect foreign investors rather than host countries’ development interests. As a consequence, inconsistency and ambiguity have led to uncertainty and unpredictability of the forum. This is not only disadvantaged the parties due to inability to foresee the likely outcome of the disputes but also endanger the ICSID tribunals’ credibility as neutral and reliable forum.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-121
Author(s):  
Abdallah Mohamed Othman El Nofely ◽  
Rehna Gul

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a crucial role in the economic sector, particularly in developing countries. BIT lays down instrumental principles which help to protect investors’ establishments in host states, by inter alia encouraging prompt compensation in case of expropriation. Governments need FDIs to gear up their economic growth, advance technology, and scale down unemployment. Most scholarly writings are in favor that BIT is a necessary tool for promoting FDIs, however this study takes a different approach and categorically unveils the draw backs of BIT in developing countries by highlighting some of the contentious provisions that have sparked unprecedented legal, economic, sociopolitical and diplomatic strife between the host countries, investors and investors’ home countries. Therefore, the author proposes development for regional Model BITs that would go in line with national laws to curtail the persisting sovereignty and socio-economic challenges.


2000 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W Edgington ◽  
Roger Hayter

This paper is a critical examination of the ‘flying geese’ and ‘billiard ball’ models of foreign direct investment (FDI) and their ability to explain the spatial expansion of Japanese electronics multinationals (MNCs) in Asia-Pacific countries from 1985 to 1996. Data on Japanese FDI are analyzed in this region at the aggregate, sectoral, and firm level. The paper commences with a review of the flying geese model, especially that version which interprets Japanese FDI as a catalyst for Asian development, and the billiard ball metaphor which suggests a mechanism for host countries to ‘catch up’ with Japan. The authors then turn to an analysis of Japanese FDI in Asia-Pacific together with employment data for fourteen major firms. This allows an evaluation of the two models in terms of recent geographical patterns of investment and employment growth by electronics MNCs. A special case study of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd (MEI) helps flesh out the evolving geography of Japanese electronics firms in Asia-Pacific. Although the results support the overall patterns suggested by the two models, the authors argue that metaphors and analogies such as flying geese and billiard balls should not be used casually and as a substitute for analysis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anshuman Kamila ◽  
Mitali Chinara

Developing countries often consider foreign direct investment (FDI) as an engine to boost economic growth. Therefore they try to promote investment inflow by various means. One approach is to offer investment guarantees to foreign investors using Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). Following international best practice, India has signed a number of BITs to stimulate inflow of FDI. Till date, the Government of India has signed BITs with 83 countries. These BITs were largely negotiated on the basis of the Indian Model BIT of 1993. There have been recent moves that point in the direction of India fundamentally altering the text of its BITs with countries, including calling off existing BITs and approving a new model BIT. However, concerns have been raised as to the possible pernicious impact of these changes on the inflow of FDI into India. This paper investigates whether the concern is warranted at all – by asking if BITs significantly impact the inflow of FDI. It is established that BIT is indeed a veritable boost to FDI inflow, and the estimated coefficient remains significant and robust across econometric specifications. Therefore, a note of caution is sounded for the rejigging exercise involving BITs that has been initiated by India.


Author(s):  
Jose Godinez

Foreign direct investment has aided in a significant manner the economic development of Latin America since the early 1990s because capital in this region is limited (Blanco, 2012). Despite some criticism literature on FDI has overwhelmingly demonstrated that FDI has positive effects on host countries (Tan & Meyer, 2011) especially in Latin America (Wooster & Diebel, 2010). Authors researching the effects of FDI in Latin America have stated that this investment helps to growth on productivity (Blonigen & Wang, 2005) and thus, might help developing countries to begin their road to development. Therefore, scholars have devoted great efforts to understanding the determinants of FDI to Latin America and a brief overview will be provided in this study.This paper will present a detailed account of FDI flows to the region, a clear definition of corruption and how it is manifested in Latin America. After these definitions, suggestions are provided to deal with the problem of corruption in the region.


Asian Survey ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 881-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Mee Kim ◽  
Jai S. Mah

South Korea's growth as an outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) player is an example of developing countries becoming major foreign investors. China has become the largest destination for Korean OFDI, which appears to complement Seoul's exports to China.


2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Çevis ◽  
Burak Çamurdan

The economic growth rates have dramatically increased in developing economies, such as in Latin American, Asian, and Eastern European countries, following the financial liberalisation attempt, especially during the 1990s. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has become an increasingly important element for economic development and integration of developing countries and transition economies in this period with the world economy. The main purpose of this study is to develop an empirical framework to estimate the economic determinants of FDI inflows by employing a panel data set of 17 developing countries and transition economies for the period of 1989:01-2006:04. In our model there are seven explanatory economic variables. They are, respectively, the previous period FDI (the pull factor for new FDI), GDP growth (measures market size), Wage (unit labour costs), Trade Rate (measures the openness of countries), the real interest rates (measures macroeconomic policy), inflation rate (as country risk and macroeconomic policy), and domestic investment (Business Climate). Hence, throughout the paper, only the economic determinants (being separated and apart from the other studies in the literature) of FDI inflows to developing countries and transition economies are studied. It is found out that the previous period FDI which is directly related to the host countries’ economic resources is important as an economic determinant. Besides, it is also understood that the main determinants of FDI inflows are the inflation rate, the interest rate, the growth rate, and the trade (openness) rate and FDI inflows give power to the economies of host countries.


2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-299
Author(s):  
İSmail ÇEviŞ ◽  
Burak ÇAmurdan

The economic growth rates have dramatically increased in developing economies, such as in Latin American, Asian, and Eastern European countries, following the financial liberalisation attempt, especially during the 1990s. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has become an increasingly important element for economic development and integration of developing countries and transition economies in this period with the world economy. The main purpose of this study is to develop an empirical framework to estimate the economic determinants of FDI inflows by employing a panel data set of 17 developing countries and transition economies for the period of 1989:01-2006:04. In our model there are seven explanatory economic variables. They are, respectively, the previous period FDI (the pull factor for new FDI), GDP growth (measures market size), Wage (unit labour costs), Trade Rate (measures the openness of countries), the real interest rates (measures macroeconomic policy), inflation rate (as country risk and macroeconomic policy), and domestic investment (Business Climate). Hence, throughout the paper, only the economic determinants (being separated and apart from the other studies in the literature) of FDI inflows to developing countries and transition economies are studied. It is found out that the previous period FDI which is directly related to the host countries’ economic resources is important as an economic determinant. Besides, it is also understood that the main determinants of FDI inflows are the inflation rate, the interest rate, the growth rate, and the trade (openness) rate and FDI inflows give power to the economies of host countries. JEL classification: F21, R19, C23 Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, the Determinants of FDI, the Developing Countries, Transition Economies, Panel Data Analysis


Author(s):  
Sotonye Frank

Stabilisation clauses are widely portrayed as an essential tool which developing countries use to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to their extractive industries. However, this view of stabilisation clauses is based on two presumptions. The first is that developing countries compete to attract FDI. The second is that developing countries have higher levels of political risks. This article argues that neither presumption is true as such. The available evidence points to intense competition among foreign investors, backed by their home governments, for access to the extractive industries in developing countries. The political risks that stabilisation clauses are aimed at also exist at least in equal measure, in developed countries. The article then relies on the findings of previous empirical studies and an analysis of current trends in stabilisation practices to argue that contrary to popular belief, stabilisation clauses do not play an ‘essential’ role in attracting FDI into developing countries.


2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nunnenkamp

AbstractThe rise in foreign direct investment flowing to developing countries has created high expectations that, by drawing on this source of external financing, developing countries could initiate or accelerate processes of economic catching-up to advanced industrialized countries. By contrast, the public in advanced countries such as Germany is increasingly concerned that the relocation of production and the outsourcing of inputs by multinational enterprises add significantly to domestic labor market problems. A critical review of the literature and own empirical analyses suggest, however, that both views have to be qualified in major respects. As concerns developing host countries, it appears to be more difficult to derive macroeconomic benefits from foreign direct investment than to attract it. The labor market repercussions in advanced home countries are fairly complex. While relocation and outsourcing are important means to support the international competitiveness of domestic enterprises, the employment prospects and the relative wages of less qualified workers are likely to deteriorate.


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