Why You Should Not Boycott Foreign Direct Investment in Your Country

Recently, many countries, especially those with Muslim majorities, have been calling for a boycott of Western products.  In principle, this represents a form of economic boycott, used as a means of punishing American companies for their support of Israel. However, it is important to recognize that such boycotts may actually harm the local economy rather than the targeted American companies For example, when people boycott a company like Coca-Cola, which has invested in their country, they are effectively boycotting the local branch rather than the parent company abroad. 

As a result, the economic loss is greater for the local community: workers lose their jobs, and the country forfeits valuable tax revenues. Furthermore, such actions may cause the local economy to lose its attractiveness to future foreign investors.Thus, boycotting direct foreign investments may slightly advance the Palestinian cause, but it will certainly inflict damage on the local economy.