Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis

James K. Jackson
Specialist in International Trade and Finance

Foreign direct investment in the United States declined sharply after 2000, when a record $300 billion was invested in U.S. businesses and real estate. [Note: The United States defines foreign direct investment as the ownership or control, directly or indirectly, by one foreign person (individual, branch, partnership, association, government, etc.) of 10% or more of the voting securities of an incorporated U.S. business enterprise or an equivalent interest in an unincorporated U.S. business enterprise. 15 CFR § 806.15 (a)(1).] In 2008, according to Department of Commerce data, foreigners invested $325 billion. Foreign direct investments are highly sought after by many state and local governments that are struggling to create additional jobs in their localities. While some in Congress encourage such investment to offset the perceived negative economic effects of U.S. firms investing abroad, others are concerned about foreign acquisitions of U.S. firms that are considered essential to U.S. national and economic security. 

Foreigners invested $325 billion in U.S. businesses and real estate in 2008, according to data published by the Department of Commerce.1 As Figure 1 shows, this represents a sharp increase over the $237 billion invested in 2007. Investments abroad by U.S. parent firms fell slightly in 2008 to $318 billion, down from the $333 billion they invested abroad in 2007. The increase in foreign direct investment flows mirrors a turnaround in global flows. According to the United Nations' World Investment Report, global foreign direct investment inflows increased by 30% in 2007 and 38% in 2006. The data indicate that global foreign direct investment flows increased slightly in 2004 after three years of declining flows that arose from competitive international price pressures leading to greater internationalization of production, rising commodity prices, and increased international merger and acquisition activity in some areas.


Date of Report: February 4, 2010
Number of Pages: 9
Order Number: RS21857
Price: $29.95

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