The measurement of international investment through FDI statistics: structure and results of the Bank of Greece's annual foreign direct investment survey

The purpose of this article is to describe the methodology, the statistical process and the results obtained from the annual Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) survey conducted by the Bank of Greece. First, we make extensive reference to the OECD Benchmark Definition of Foreign Direct Investment (BMD4), which provides full and detailed guidance on the coverage and compilation of FDI statistics. After defining what FDI statistics include and illustrating the ownership structure of a multinational enterprise group under the Benchmark Definition, the analysis focuses on the instructions of BMD4 for the compilation and presentation of aggregated as well as detailed FDI statistics by partner country and by economic activity. Next, we outline the content and the structure of the survey’s questionnaires and the statistical process followed for the compilation of FDI statistics. Finally, we present the results obtained from the FDI survey at the level of stocks by partner country and by economic activity, as well as the main economies that ultimately control investments in Greece and the intermediate chains they use.