Diaspora Investment and Firm Export Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Diasporans can contribute to the development of their home countries by investing their capital in existing businesses and/or setting up new ventures in their countries-of-origin. This paper analyzes whether these growingly important investors differ from domestic firms and foreign investors in terms of export behavior. Our results indicate that diaspora firms are more likely to be exporters, to export more intensively and toward more destinations compared to domestic firms; in addition their export performance is not substantially dissimilar to that of MNEs. The presence of diaspora investors and entrepreneurs may contribute to boost the internationalization of developing countries.

Keywords: diaspora firms, export performance, foreign direct investment, Sub-Saharan Africa