Foreign direct investment and economic growth: a dynamic study of measurement approaches and results

The relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth (FDI-EG) has been subject to extensive research. The first document related to FDI-EG research in Web of Science was published in 1992 so that the research time is close to 30 years. This article aims to make a bibliometric study to measure the FDI-EG research from different points of view. 1,075 documents with respect to FDI-EG research were collected, and a strong bibliometric analysis was carried out by Bibliometrix software and review of approaches. The Bibliometrix software has revealed the leading researchers, conceptual structure, and thematic evolution of the FDI-EG research. At the same time, reviewing the literature helps to make content analysis, the most influential document analysis, co-authorship analysis, and citation and co-citation analysis. Amongst the findings, C. Chen, Journal of International Economics, and the USA are the most influential researcher, journal, and country, respectively. The FDI-EG research are focussed on the technology and firm performance, research modelling, and theoretical inquiry. More discussions are made in terms of current research status, avenues for future research, advantages and drawbacks of the methods. This article helps in understanding the evolution of the FDI-EG research from the perspectives of the bibliometric and review.