Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 04/2013

Inward FDI in Ireland and its policy context, 2012

Louis Brennan, Rakhi Verma

March 2013

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Abstract

Despite the global financial and economic crises and a sharp downturn in the domestic economy between 2008 and 2009, Ireland managed to attract large inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2010. Inward FDI (IFDI) flows in 2010 were at a similar level to those in 2009, the second highest in Ireland’s FDI history. However in 2011, there was a decline in such flows. While Ireland’s economy has been greatly affected by the global crisis, Irish government initiatives have further fostered the country’s attractiveness as an investment location for the world’s firms. All indications are that Ireland’s IFDI performance will continue to surpass that of most countries into the near future.