Author

Chuanliu Ni

Date of Graduation

1998

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Many research efforts have been devoted to the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) on China's economic achievement, to the general FDI distribution pattern as well as to regional economic disparities in China. The objectives of this dissertation are to address several issues in recent research, develop a model for FDI influx into China, examine major factors influencing FDI distribution in China and a separate study on China's regional economic disparities. Beginning with a literature survey on FDI study, I theoretically examine the (FDI) self-reinforcing model. I justify some of the assumptions of the FDI self-reinforcing model. I developed a technology-amended FDI self-reinforcing model. I conduct an empirical test of these two models. My test results demonstrate that the technology-amended FDI self-reinforcing model explains FDI influx into China better than the (FDI) self-reinforcing model. Following background descriptions on China's (FDI) economic environments and FDI-related policies, I propose an empirical model to describe major factors influencing a Chinese region (province) to attract FDI. I conduct an empirical test of this model with panel data. Test results support the empirical hypothesis. Finally, I conduct the first study in the literature on China's regional (provincial) development disparities along the line of regional development policies from the beginning of the establishment of the People's Republic of China (1949) till 1996. My empirical findings of China's regional development demonstrate that it is impossible for socialist planning to reduce regional development disparities.

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