Net International Investment Position (NIIP)
Conversely, a positive NIIP figure indicates that the domestic nation's ownership of foreign assets is greater than the foreign nation's ownership of that domestic nation's assets, thus making it a creditor nation. A negative NIIP figure indicates that foreign nations own more of the domestic nation’s assets than the domestic nation does of foreign assets, thus making it a debtor nation. A net international investment position (NIIP) measures the gap between a nation’s stock of foreign assets and a foreigner's stock of that nation's assets. A net international investment position (NIIP) measures the gap between a nation’s stock of foreign assets and a foreigner's stock of that nation's assets.
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What Is a Net International Investment Position (NIIP)?
A net international investment position (NIIP) measures the gap between a nation’s stock of foreign assets and a foreigner's stock of that nation's assets. Essentially, it can be viewed as a nation’s balance sheet with the rest of the world at a specific point in time.
Understanding a Net International Investment Position (NIIP)
NIIP includes overseas assets and liabilities held by a nation’s government, the private sector, and its citizens. The NIIP is analogous to net foreign assets (NFA), which determines whether a country is a creditor or debtor nation by measuring the difference in its external assets and liabilities.
Most nations release NIIP figures quarterly. In the NIIP, assets are divided into direct investment, portfolio investment, other investment, and reserve assets, which include foreign currencies, gold, and special drawing rights. Liabilities are reported with the same classification, except for “reserve assets,” which have no equivalent on the liabilities side.
Why a Net International Investment Position (NIIP) Is Important
A nation’s NIIP is a key component of the national balance sheet since NIIP plus the value of non-financial assets is equal to an economy's net worth. The NIIP, coupled with the balance of payments transactions, reflects the domestic economy’s set of international accounts.
The NIIP position is an important barometer of a nation’s financial condition and creditworthiness. A negative NIIP figure indicates that foreign nations own more of the domestic nation’s assets than the domestic nation does of foreign assets, thus making it a debtor nation. Conversely, a positive NIIP figure indicates that the domestic nation's ownership of foreign assets is greater than the foreign nation's ownership of that domestic nation's assets, thus making it a creditor nation.
Two metrics used to assess the NIIP's size relative to the economy's size are the ratio of NIIP to gross domestic product (GDP) and the ratio of NIIP to the economy’s total financial assets.
Example of a Net International Investment Position (NIIP)
U.S. NIIP data is published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and accessible to all.
The country's NIIP at the end of the third quarter of 2020 was –$13.95 trillion, a decrease from its prior reading of –$13.08 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2020. This means that the difference in the value of foreign assets owned by the U.S. fell further below the value of U.S. assets owned by foreign nations.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
Here’s how the numbers stacked up:
Related terms:
Asset
An asset is a resource with economic value that an individual or corporation owns or controls with the expectation that it will provide a future benefit. read more
Balance Sheet : Formula & Examples
A balance sheet is a financial statement that reports a company's assets, liabilities and shareholder equity at a specific point in time. read more
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is responsible for the analysis and reporting of economic data. read more
Capital Account
In economics, the capital account is the part of the balance of payments that records net changes in a country’s financial assets and liabilities. read more
Creditor Nation
A creditor nation has positive net investment after recording all of the financial transactions completed between it and the rest of the world. read more
Debtor Nation
A debtor nation has negative net investment after recording all of the financial transactions it has completed worldwide. read more
Depression
An economic depression is a steep and sustained drop in economic activity featuring high unemployment and negative GDP growth. read more
Direct Investment
Direct investment is the purchase or acquisition of a controlling interest in a foreign business by means other than the purchase of shares. read more
Financial Asset
A financial asset is a non-physical, liquid asset that represents—and derives its value from—a claim of ownership of an entity or contractual rights to future payments. Stocks, bonds, cash, and bank deposits are examples of financial assets. read more
Gross Domestic Income (GDI)
Gross domestic income (GDI) is a measure of economic activity based on all the income earned while engaged in said economic activity. read more