Exports as a Mediator Variable Between Foreign Direct Investment Inflows and GDP in Low and Low-Middle Income African Countries

Scientific Study from the year 2020 in the subject Economics - International Economic Relations, language: English, abstract: This study aims identifying the mediation effect of export in the relationship between FDI and GDP in low and middle low-income African countries. The study uses correlation analysis, Baron and Kenny method, Bootstrap procedure and Sobel test to investigate the significance of the indirect effect. The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, exports and economic growth as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) has been a global interest of academics and policy-makers, but research methods did not allow the characterization of the indirect mediating effects that exports have on that relationship. The result of the analysis shows a partial mediation of exports in the relationship between FDI and GDP. The study demonstrates the indirect effect caused by FDI through export. It is therefore recommended that low and middle low-income African countries should stimulate foreign direct investment to boost their exports, and gross domestic product. Additionally, these countries should find new ways of financing exports as FDI are predicted to fall due to the Covid-19 pandemic during 2020.