A methodological brief
The aim of the WIPS is to provide insights into the mediumterm
prospects for FDI flows. This year’s survey was directed to
executives in the largest 5,000 non-financial TNCs and professionals
working in 245 national and sub-national IPAs. Questions for TNC
executives were designed to capture their views on the global
investment climate, their company’s expected changes in FDI
expenditures and internationalization levels, and the importance
their company gives to various regions and countries. IPAs were
asked about their views on the global investment climate and which
investor countries and industries were most promising in terms of
inward FDI.
This year’s survey results are based on 164 validated responses
by TNCs and 80 responses by IPAs collected by e-mail and through
a dedicated website between February and May 2014. TNCs in
developed economies accounted for 80 per cent of responses
(Europe, 41 per cent; other developed economies – mainly Japan
– 27 per cent; and North America, 9 per cent). TNCs in developing
and transition economies accounted for 20 per cent of responses. In
terms of sectoral distribution, 54 per cent of respondent TNCs were
classified as operating in the manufacturing sector, 40 per cent in
the services sector and 6 per cent in the primary sector. For IPAs,
75 per cent of respondents were located in developing or transition
economies and 25 per cent were located in developed economies.