Foreign direct investment and institutional environment: the impact of bilateral investment treaties

Institutional factors are a critical driving force for the rapid growth of outward foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries. This article attempts to explain how developing countries can take advantage of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) to reduce investment uncertainties caused by informal institutional distance and help domestic companies invest abroad. The results confirm that the cultural difference between China and a host country is negatively associated with the likelihood of FDI entry into the host country. BITs function as a substitute for the host country's institutional environment by reducing investment uncertainties caused by cultural distance. Moreover, state-owned enterprises are less responsive to BITs in host countries than private enterprises, suggesting that private firms rely more on BITs to reduce their investment risks abroad.