Even at near-zero interest rates for a prolonged period since the financial crisis, why has business investment in advanced economies remained persistently below its pre-crisis level? This paper investigates empirically the roots of this investment puzzle from the global megatrend perspective. The empirical model of this study augmented the uncertainty-finance accelerator investment model with megatrend variables of a transition to service industry, ageing population and a rise in income inequality. The main estimation results show that they have affected negatively the business investment over the period 1980-2014. The shift-to-service driven investment fall is the price-dominant effect during the transition, which is not necessarily pessimistic news, while the suppressing effects from ageing and a rise in income inequality require adequate policy reactions. In addition, the analysis finds significant negative spillover effects of trade partners' ageing and income inequality on a country's own private investment. Based on the empirical results, I expect that the G20’s efforts in inclusiveness with structural reforms will stimulate global business investment.

Keywords: investment, megatrends, aggregate demand, uncertainty, G20, inclusiveness
JEL classification: E20, F41, F42 

Executive Summary

I. Introduction

II. Data

1. Investment
2. (Global) Megatrends
3. Uncertainty

III. Empirical Model: Augmented Demand Accelerator Model

IV. Results and Policy Implication

1. Closed Economy
2. Open Economy

V. Conclusion

Appendix

References