covered with/by

[Lenka]

"Nearly two thirds of the budget are covered BY/WITH foreign direct investment."

Which of the preposition is correct and why?

 

[banderas]

"Nearly two thirds of the budget are covered BY/WITH foreign direct investment."

Which of the preposition is correct and why?

Hi Lenka,
the word 'covered', 'by' points someone or something who/that did the covering, and 'with' or 'in' points to the material.
foreign direct investment (DID IT) covered nearly two thirds of.....
I will go for "by" here.

Let's see what natives say, ok?

 

[Lenka]

Thanks, Banderas ;-). I think you are right.