FDI and Performance: A Comparative Analysis Between Emerging and Developed Economies

Abstract

This study investigates the nuanced relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and firm performance, addressing the heterogeneity of FDI's impact across countries with different levels of development. While FDI is widely recognized as a catalyst for economic growth, technology transfer, and enhanced competitiveness, particularly in developing economies, its effects remain contingent on the host country's specific context. Drawing on the theory of systemic competitiveness, this research examines how institutional, economic, and cultural factors shape the influence of FDI on firm performance. The selection of Nigeria, Ghana, and France as case studies enables a comparative analysis that contrasts the role of FDI in driving structural transformation in developing African economies with its function in market consolidation and technological partnerships in a developed European context. By differentiating the impact of FDI according to the level of development, this study seeks to enrich the existing literature, deepen understanding of the systemic dynamics of competitiveness, and offer relevant managerial and policy implications for optimizing the benefits of FDI across diverse national environments.