The changing pattern of foreign direct investment in Latin America

Abstract

Latin America has regained attractiveness for foreign direct investment. However, it is still uncertain whether the recent boom of capital inflows is sustainable, and which countries are well prepared to benefit from the current trend towards globalized production. Economic policies pursued by Latin American governments are shown to be of overriding importance for explaining why the region as a whole lost ground vis-a-vis Asian competitors for foreign direct investment, and why some Latin American economies were more successful than others in restoring their locational attractiveness.