Regional determinants of foreign direct investment in mainland China

Examines how the locational choice of foreign direct investment (FDI) is influenced by regional characteristics in mainland China, such as the potential for market share extension, labour cost differences, allocative efficiency, transportation infrastructure, and research and development capability. Empirical testing is conducted by the conditional logit model using pooled cross‐section and time‐series data. Empirical findings for the 1987‐1991 period indicate that the variable for market share extension potential only affects FDI in the middle region. Surprisingly, labour cost differences do not affect the location of FDI. Interregional railroad connections are found to be positively related to the choice of location of FDI, but FDI may not necessarily locate near innovative Chinese industries.