Updated Experimental Ultimate Host Economy Statistics for U.S. Direct Investment Abroad

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is refining how it tracks where U.S. multinational investment ultimately lands, beyond the first country in the ownership chain. Many U.S. firms route funds through holding companies or intermediaries, masking the true destination of economic activity and capital. This paper updates prior research by testing nine reallocation methods, enhancing ownership-chain mapping, and incorporating U.S. affiliates into investment pathways. Early results suggest that more accurate “ultimate host” tracking could reshape how policymakers understand global capital flows and economic exposure.