Abstract EN:

The thesis tackles the issues of the determinants and the impact of foreign direct investments (FDI) in developing countries. By bringing successively into the analysis the lessons of economic history, the main theories of foreign direct investment and the particular experience of Sub-Saharan African countries with FDI during the 90's, the first three chapters isolate the factors which dictate the allocation of FDI within the developing countries. The three following chapters examine the influence of FDI inflows on the host countries both at the industry and the macroeconomic level before showing the results of an econometric analysis of the relationship between FDI and economic growth based on the data from 57 developing countries averaged over the 80's and the 90's. The results show that the predicted positive effect of FDI is not systematic. FDI acts as a catalyst for productivity growth only in the small group of developing countries already distinguished by outstanding economic performance. . .