16 Jun
Follow the money
Source: Economist.com
DEVELOPING countries are attracting more foreign investment than ever before. Since 2000, FDI inflows have rocketed from $165.5 billion to an estimated $470.8 billion in 2007 says the World Bank. China draws the most, attracting $84 billion of investment last year. But this represented 18% of the total compared with 30% five years before. By contrast, Brazil and Turkey have seen their share increase. Investment has poured into Russia, mainly because of its energy boom, even despite increasing regulatory hurdles to foreign investors. Mexico is the fourth-biggest destination country, receiving $23.2 billion in FDI—the same as it gets in remittances.