Analysis of the Relationship Between Private Investment and Public Investment in Mexico

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the relationships between domestic private investment and domestic public investment in Mexico. The hypotheses are as follows: H1 – Domestic public investment generates domestic private investment (period between 1993 and 2017); H2 – Domestic public investment generates domestic private investment (period between 1993 and 2008); H3 – Domestic public investment generates domestic private investment (period between 2009 and 2017). In order to analyze the relationship between the variables in this study we used the quarterly data series on public gross fixed capital formation (public GFCF) and private gross fixed capital formation (private GFCF) provided by the Mexican System of National Accounts, corresponding to the period between the first quarter of 1993 and the second quarter of 2017. In order to fulfill the aims of this study, the following stages were performed: identification of the time series models, using the methodology consisting of autoregressive integrated moving average models or ARIMA models; validation of the models identified; determination of the cross correlation function; and regression analysis of the transformed series. The main results of the study for the series from 1993 to 2017 show a statistically significant direct relationship between private investment and public investment. This confirms hypothesis 1: Domestic public investment generates domestic private investment (period between 1993 and 2017). The value of the Durbin-Watson statistic for this model is 2.103, meaning that the residuals are independent. The value of the constant in the model is not statistically significant. For the series from 1993 to 2008 there is a statistically significant direct relationship between private investment and public investment. This confirms hypothesis 2: Domestic public investment generates domestic private investment, and the residuals are independent. With regard to the results for the series from 2009 to 2017, there is a statistically significant direct relationship between private investment and public investment. This confirms hypothesis 3: Domestic public investment generates domestic private investment (period between 2009 and 2017). The value of the Durbin-Watson statistic for this model is 1.74, meaning that the residuals are independent. The value of the constant in the model is statistically significant.