Can foreign direct investment contribute to sustainable development? The role of Brazilian organisations involved in investment promotion (2002-2016)

• Autor(a) principal: Murgi, Rafael
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da USP
• Texto Completo: http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/101/101131/tde-30102019-165436/
• topic: Desenvolvimento sustentável; Empresas multinacionais; Foreign direct investment; Investimento estrangeiro direto; Investment promotion; Multinational companies; Políticas públicas; Promoção de investimentos; Public policy; Sustainable development

In the last decades, flows of foreign direct investment have risen sharply. This type of investment is the main means used by multinational companies in their internationalisation processes. As a result of the greater presence of multinational companies in several countries, complex relationships have been developed between these actors and governments of the host locations. Inasmuch as investments made by multinational companies have been associated with various benefits to the host economy, many governments have been adopting proactive measures to attract foreign direct investment. One of the forms used by governments to do so is the provision of services by investment promotion entities. This study aims to evaluate the actions related to sustainable development taken by government organisations involved in foreign direct investment promotion in Brazil, considering the period between 2002 and 2016. Sustainable development is a concept derived from the idea that income indicators are necessary but not sufficient to measure the well-being of a society. An adequate use of natural resources and improvement in social conditions are also aspects necessary to guarantee good living standards. Governments may use policies to attract foreign direct investment as a tool to promote sustainable development in the locations they represent. The main conclusion of this thesis is that Brazilian organisations involved in foreign direct investment promotion did have a relevant role in fostering sustainable development in Brazil, as strategies were adopted and activities were carried out to promote investments related to the concept, resulting in the facilitation of projects with potential to promote sustainable development. Still, additional measures could have been taken to foster sustainable development through foreign direct investment. These additional measures could have enhanced the potential impact of the investment promotion policy on sustainable development in Brazil.