Foreign Direct Investment
Theoretical Definition: The causal (independent) variable is the inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the technology sector. Foreign direct investment is investment (lasting presence) by foreign investors in productive assets in an entity located in an economy (the host country) other than the one in which the foreign investor is located (the source country) (OECD, 1996; World Bank, 2003; International Monetary Fund, 2001; Blonigen, 2005; Johnson, 2006a; Kornecki et al., 2008).
Dependent Variables
Dependent variables are imports and exports of the technology sector.
Exports
Theoretical Definition: Exports include goods and services that are produced domestically but sold abroad. MNEs start to trade in the foreign market, and after firms are comfortable with their partners, economic, social and political conditions, MNEs may establish a subsidiary in the host country or embark on joint ventures with local enterprises. Therefore, FDI may occur and shortly after, MNEs may start to export (Hockman & Djankov, 1996; UNCTAD, 1996; Liu, X,. Wang, C. & Wei,Y., 2001; World Bank, 2006).
Imports
Theoretical Definition: Imports are goods and services that are foreign produced but sold domestically. Imports indicate market presence for products and MNEs may seek to produce them locally, therefore justifying MNE's investment to be present in the host country. Now in the host country, this MNEs may import basic intermediate goods and supplies produced in the country where the MNE is coming from ( intermediate goods produced by headquarters) to satisfy quality standards (Hockman & Djankov, 1996; UNCTAD, 1996; Liu, X,. Wang, C. & Wei,Y., 2001; World Bank, 2006).
Table: Variable Definitions
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Variables
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Definition
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Source
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Expected Impact
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Dependent
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Exports
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Exports from Costa Rica's Technology Sector (US Dollars)
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The World Development Indicators (WDI), World Bank.
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Imports
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Imports from Costa Rica's Technology Sector (US Dollars)
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The World Development Indicators (WDI), World Bank.
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Independent
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Foreign Direct Investment
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Foreign Direct Investment to the Technology Sector (US Dollars)
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UNCTAD, World Bank, OECD, IMF, ECLAC, ECE
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Exports
Imports
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