In 1982, approximately how much foreign direct investment flowed across the world?

In 1982, approximately how much foreign direct investment flowed across the world?

• A. 1.76 trillion USD
• B. 100 billion USD
• C. 57 billion USD
• D. 2.5 trillion USD

Answer: (C)

Foreign direct investment flows track the amount of cross-border investment aimed at establishing lasting ownership and control in foreign enterprises. In 1982, global FDI flows were in the tens of billions, roughly around 57 billion USD. This reflects a time when cross-border investment was much smaller—global markets were less integrated and capital movement faced more controls—so the total was far below later decades when FDI rose to hundreds of billions or trillions. The other figures are either far too large for that era or, while plausible in some contexts, do not match the historical scale of global FDI in 1982. So, about 57 billion USD is the best approximate.

Foreign direct investment flows track the amount of cross-border investment aimed at establishing lasting ownership and control in foreign enterprises. In 1982, global FDI flows were in the tens of billions, roughly around 57 billion USD. This reflects a time when cross-border investment was much smaller—global markets were less integrated and capital movement faced more controls—so the total was far below later decades when FDI rose to hundreds of billions or trillions. The other figures are either far too large for that era or, while plausible in some contexts, do not match the historical scale of global FDI in 1982. So, about 57 billion USD is the best approximate.