Migrant Networks and Foreign Direct Investment: A Cliometric Perspective

Recent economic literature highlights that migrant networks help to overcome the informal barriers that exist in the international markets and boost international investment. Empirical studies on different countries confirm this prediction. This paper estimates (OLS-IV) an econometric model to study the impact of both emigration and immigration on Italy's bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI). The main results are that Italian emigrants abroad have a significant positive effect on Italy's both inward and outward FDI, while immigrants are not a signifcant determinant. A theoretical framework, a profile of the diaspora and of immigration in Italy and some exemplary entrepreneurial histories help to interpret the econometric evidence.