Analysis of the Network of Foreign Direct Investment Inflows

In this study, considering the characteristics of complex networks such as dynamics and comprehensiveness in analyzing the behaviors of countries, the global network of foreign investment inflows consisting of 248 countries and trade territories in the years 2009 to 2022 was constructed, and network indicators including degree, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality, PageRank, hub, and authority were calculated. Then, the functional position of the top-performing countries based on the intensity and level of the obtained network indicators was analyzed and compared annually. The results obtained during the study period showed improvement in the degree, betweenness, and PageRank indices, which respectively indicate the number and diversity of communications, the share of information control among countries, and countries' efforts to use the influence of neighbors to reach polar and influential countries. The effect of increasing closeness centrality, which indicates the level of independence, on the main countries in the effective network has improved. Therefore, it is recommended that if countries seek to increase foreign direct investment inflows, they should plan in such a way that their network indicators, resulting from increased interactions and communications, are improved.