The development of FDI between 1850 and 1945: The most important motive for FDI during this period was resource seeking through MNE exploitment of natural resources or agricultural production.
Resource-seeking and the existing colonial structure tended to direct FDI flows toward economies outside of Europe and North America.
United States was in 1914 the single most important host country for FDI due to its large market, high tariffs and abundance of natural resources.