Given the broad consensus long established in the literature that the time-series property of floating exchange rates is characterized by mean reversion over the medium term (see, for example, Rogoff, 1996), skewness may well be proxying for expectations of reversal in the future when the
exchange rate is hit by relatively large shocks predominantly in one direction. If so, the finding that positive skewness caused the volume of FDI outflows from Japan to decline gives support to the
view that source country investors indeed care about the future stream of revenues and returns denominated in their own currency. The idea that source country investors, in making a decision to
purchase host economy assets, are interested in the future stream of revenues and returns denominated in their own currency presents implications for policymakers in emerging and developing countries who want to maintain a stable flow of inward FDI. To the extent that actual FDI inflows respond to current and expected exchange rate changes, and expected changes are influenced by large current changes, sharp exchange rate fluctuations may exacerbate the volatility of FDI inflows through multiple channels. Avoiding erratic exchange rate behavior with respect to the currencies of major source countries should therefore help prevent similarly erratic movements in FDI inflows.