The Known, The Unknown, And The Path To Private Investment Pursuit And Thrive For Emerging Countries

Abstract

This study is a review of historical and modern literature on investment pursuit and thrive primarily private sector investment (PSI) in Emerging Economies (EEs). A total of 110 studies published in peer-reviewed journals were examined using the documentary source method. The study shows that the knowledge gap of the research issues exists in how marketing/advertising/technology constraints, economic and social risks affect the growth of private firms, and the tactics for optimising firm value. It documents that PSI research in EEs has theoretical underpinnings that facilitate easier formulation and replication of research models in different EEs. It originally established the need to move beyond quantitative methodologies of examining investment issues to a perspective that adopts qualitative methods and firm-level focus. It evidently confirmed that Africa and Asia are prone to investment restraints, environmental uncertainty, and poor investment management. And that even when ground-breaking research is undertaken in Africa, it often ends up in files, books, or libraries, largely ignored by practitioners due to widespread illiteracy, economic, social, political, and other related bottlenecks. The findings of the study imply an opportunity to investigate the least explored PSI areas to facilitate EEs’ economic prosperity is critical. It also suggests that a more focused study in the lack areas will fill the gaps, enrich the literature, and provide new knowledge to emerging researchers, practitioners and policymakers to ultimately reach the SDGs.