THE CAPITAL FLIGHT FROM INDIA: A CASE OF MISSING WOODS FOR TREES?

The surge of capital inflow into emerging markets since the 1990s has attracted much research, but capital flight from these economies has received scant attention in research and policy debates, despite its severe implications. The present study attempts to address the issue of capital flight and gap in the literature. Our estimates show a steep increase in the magnitude of capital flight from India since 2003, and empirical results suggest that the significant determinants of capital flight are GDP and exchange rate. We find that higher interest rates discourage capital flight; while keeping interest rates high may partially restrict capital flight, it is infeasible, and may impede future economic growth. Our findings suggest the need for interventions and changes in the current policy framework to improve investment opportunities for residents and arrest capital flight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]