The impact of Sweden ́s Negative Repo Rate on FDI : A quantitative analysis of how Sweden’s monetary policy has affected foreign direct investments

Abstract: Sweden’s central bank implemented a negative interest rate policy (NIRP) in 2015, one year after adopting a zero-interest rate policy. Due to the monetary policy’s untested framework,experts are divided on the effectiveness of such a policy as well as its fortitude when faced with an economic recession. The lack of research on how the interest rate affects various economic metrics has left ample room for analysis and discussion on the subject. The aim ofthis thesis is to analyze how Sweden’s monetary policy has affected the flow of foreign directinvestments (FDI). Specifically, the paper will be focused on discovering the effect of theRiksbank’s negative repo rate policy on net FDI inflows between 2006 and 2017. Our quantitative analysis found no significant relationship between Sweden’s repo rate and itsFDI inflows. However, significance was found in the variables exchange rate, research and development expenditures, corporate taxes, and wages.