Employer-provided training and productivity: Evidence from a panel of Japanese Firms

This study presents evidence on the relationship between employer-provided training and productivity. The important contributions of this study are its comparison of the relative contribution of training to productivity and wages and its distinction between manufacturing and service firms. The results indicate that training significantly contributes to the labor productivity, particularly for firms in the service sector. The elasticities of productivity and wages to training stock are similar in size, meaning that the returns to firms’ training investments are shared by their workers in proportion to the wage share of the value-added.     

Latent advantage,complex challenges: Industrial policy and Chinese linkages in Ethiopia's leather sector

Industrial policy is back on the African policy agenda, with a number of countries following new strategies for rapid industrialization. None have done so more eagerly than Ethiopia. The present paper draws on Justin Yifu Lin's framework of New Structural Economics to assess Ethiopia's industrial policies and engagement in the leather industry. Making use of two rounds of semi-structured interviews (2012 and 2015) with all of the foreign firms and more than a dozen local firms in the leather sector, as well as other key stakeholders, it examines seven steps the government took to build the industrial policy: Create a high-level focus on the sector; make strategic use of international development partners; attract a “lead goose” (Chinese) in the footwear sector; build government capacity to support the sector; strengthen business associations; “shock-to-shape” upgrading; improve input supply. Ultimately, while government interventions have led to improvements across several steps of the value chain, the paper identifies a number of factors that have prevented the country from fully realizing a latent comparative advantage in the leather sector.     

The Impact of Product Market Competition on Employers’ Training Investments. Evidence from German Establishment Panel Data

According to different training theories the sign of the relationship between competition and training is ambiguous. Using a large panel data set of German manufacturing establishments, this paper investigates the impact of product market competition on training incidence and on the share of trained workers. In our empirical analysis, we use three indicators of product market competition which are the Herfindahl index, the number of firms at the 3-digit industry level and the price-cost margin. After controlling for unobserved heterogeneity, there is no statistically significant effect of product market competition on training.     

Delayed firm‐paid general training

This article adds the empirically verified, but analytically neglected, fact of delayed worker training to a model of general training. By delaying training, firms can gain partial information on worker‐firm matches, generating wage compression. Analytical results differ from those of other training models. In the noncooperative regime, all firm‐paid training is delayed, all worker‐paid training is immediate. With no externalities to other firms, the cooperative result is Pareto‐optimal. In a continuous‐time extension, firms choose a probationary period after which workers are trained. With longer probations, fewer bad‐match workers are trained and wage compression rises. Government training mandates are also studied.     

On-the-Job Training,Establishment Size,and Firm Size: Evidence for Economies of Scale in the Production of Human Capital

Oi argues that the costs of monitoring employees rise with the value of the entrepreneur's time. One way of economizing on these monitoring costs is through the provision of on-the-job training for new employees. In this paper, we argue that differences in training by firm- and establishment-size arise from cost advantages for larger firms; specifically, large firms and establishments have economies of scale in the provision of formal training and greater opportunities for informal coworker training. A unique data set is employed to estimate the relation among employer size and the intensity, duration, and composition of various training measures. It is possible that these cost advantages, which lead to greater amounts of training for employees of large firms, may explain, in part, the wage rate-firm size differential.     

中国企业出口市场导向量表的开发与检验

在出口绩效的相关研究中,市场导向被认为是重要的决定因素之一,但文献中缺乏针对中国企业出口市场导向的实证研究。文章在对市场导向的概念和测量问题进行简要的文献综述的基础上,结合定性研究的结果,开发了一套适合中国企业的复合项目量表以测量出口市场导向,检验了其信度和效度,并简要探讨了本研究的意义及其局限性。     

中国企业出口市场导向量表的开发与检验

在出口绩效的相关研究中,市场导向被认为是重要的决定因素之一,但文献中缺乏针对中国企业出口市场导向的实证研究。文章在对市场导向的概念和测量问题进行简要的文献综述的基础上,结合定性研究的结果,开发了一套适合中国企业的复合项目量表以测量出口市场导向,检验了其信度和效度,并简要探讨了本研究的意义及其局限性。     

Human capital theory and UK vocational training policy

Since the Industrial Training Act of 1964, the UK governmenthas adopted a variety of policies intended to redress a problemof under-investment in vocational training. In the 1960s and1970s it attempted to regulate the training provided by firms,through a levy scheme. More recently, subsidised training schemeshave been the centrepiece of policy. This paper examines theexplanations for market failure in vocational training, andexplores the rationale for such policies. Under-investment canarise from credit constraints and uncertainty facing trainees,and from imperfect competition in the labour market which createsexternal benefits for firms. Both subsidies and regulation canbe effective in dealing with these problems, although it isargued that the training levy scheme, as implemented in theUK and other countries, should be viewed mainly as a mechanismfor releasing credit constraints.     

The impact of COVID-19 on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Evidence from two-wave phone surveys in China

This paper examines the short-term and mid-term impact of COVID-19 restrictions on SMEs, based on two waves of phone interviews with a previously surveyed large SME sample in China. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns took a heavy toll on SMEs. Afflicted by problems of logistics blocks, labor shortages, and drops in demand, 80% of SMEs were temporarily closed at the time of the first wave of interviews in February 2020. After reining in COVID-19, authorities largely eased lockdown restrictions in April. Consequently, most SMEs had reopened by the time of the second round of surveys in May. However, many firms, particularly export firms, were running at partial capacity, primarily due to inadequate demand. Moreover, around 19% of incorporated enterprises and 25% of self-employed businesses had permanently closed between the two waves of surveys.     

Local economies and business networks re-visited. A case study of business and professional services in London

This article describes networks among business and professional services (BPS) firms in London, and deals with the relationship between the businesses interviewed and their locality. The article is based on empirical material derived from a large number of interviews with BPS firms in central London. It is noted that lateral links between firms are poor, relationships are better characterised as competitive rather than co-operative, and businesses tend to take little interest in the various support agencies. Although all the businesses interviewed placed great emphasis on the development of close, co-operative relationships with clients, markets are geographically diffuse. However, despite the weakness of localised, inter-firm links, businesses were able to identify a number of valuable and distinctive assets attached to their current location, which implies that the “local economy” continues to be important. The article finishes briefly with some implications for local economies and appropriate methods of business support.     

On-the-job training and productivity: Firm-level evidence from a large developing country

We investigate the effects of on-the-job training on firm productivity and wages using a large panel data set constituted of all large and medium size manufacturing firms in China over 2003–2007. We estimate firm productivity carefully with a recent semiparametric method and combine the propensity score matching and the difference-in-differences techniques to estimate the treatment effect of training. We find consistent evidence that i) training helps boost firm productivity and wages; ii) the higher the training expenditure per capita, the higher the increase in productivity and wages; iii) firms benefit more from training than workers. These findings are not sensitive to industrial capital intensity or firm ownership structure.     

PCAOB Inspections: Public Accounting Firms on “Trial”

The objective of our article is to obtain a better understanding of how auditors anticipate the potential for PCAOB inspection, experience the inspection, cope with the consequences of the inspection, and understand the PCAOB's influence within the context of professionalism. We use a qualitative approach that uses both surveys (55) and interviews (20) of auditors (of varying rank and firm) across a five‐year period (2012–2017). Respondents suggest that PCAOB inspectors are powerful, representing the “prosecution,” “judge,” and “jury” of the auditing profession. We therefore use a structural metaphor of the PCAOB inspection as a judicial “trial.” By controlling the criteria used to evaluate performance, inspectors have the power to repeatedly “subpoena,” “interrogate,” and return a “verdict” on the firm (auditor); those judged as “guilty” require supervised “probation.” This process is perceived as having improved audit quality but at a cost. Passing an inspection is so important that auditors (firms) have resorted to impression management strategies and “functionally stupid” work practices (e.g., excessive documentation, a decrease in critical thinking as a result of a “box ticking” approach to auditing). Furthermore, some respondents believe that being a good auditor has come at the expense of being a good accountant; the emphasis on audit process and concurrent de‐emphasis on technical accounting could ultimately lead to audits themselves falling short. In addition, it is evident that inspectors and auditors differ in their perceptions of risk, likely manifesting because inspectors are standards‐focused while auditors (firms) are methodology‐focused. Finally, the inspection process has created excessive stress and tension, beyond budget and fee pressures, which some auditors perceive as affecting the pool of talented auditors that firms may be able to attract and retain in the future.     

Chinese MNEs and managerial knowledge transfer in Africa: the case of the construction sector in Ghana

This paper considers the case of managerial knowledge spillovers from Chinese FDI in Africa, in the context of the Ghanaian construction sector. Using empirical data from in-depth qualitative interviews, the paper first identifies key channels and determinants of managerial knowledge spillovers. Limited local employment at the managerial level in Chinese construction firms is the main impediment to managerial knowledge spillovers from these firms. Cultural and linguistic barriers can explain this situation. Localisation strategies, defined as the progressive replacement of Chinese managers by local ones, can help overcome these barriers and foster managerial knowledge spillovers.     

Why Do Foreign-Owned Firms Pay More? The Role of On-the-Job Training

While foreign-owned firms have consistently been found to pay higher wages than domestic firms to what appear to be equally productive workers, the causes of this remain unresolved. In a two-period bargaining framework we show that if training is more productive and specific in foreign firms, foreign firm workers will have a steeper wage profile and thus acquire a premium over time. Using a rich employer-employee matched data set we verify that the foreign wage premium is only acquired by workers over time spent in the firm and only by those that receive on-the-job training, thus providing empirical support for a firm-specific human capital acquisition explanation. JEL no. F23, J24     

Tax Incentives,On-the-job Training,and Human Capital Accumulation: Evidence from China

This study investigates the effects of an increase in the proportion of tax credit (IPTC) policy on firms' on-the-job-training expenses. We document that the IPTC significantly increases on-the-job training expenses; the result remains valid after a series of robustness tests. An analysis of heterogeneous effects shows that privately owned firms and small-scale firms are more susceptible to the IPTC's impacts than state-owned and large-scale firms. Finally, we find that the IPTC can improve the production efficiency of firms and promote firm performance and innovation.     

The effect of exchange rates on firm exports and the role of FDI

This paper studies how exchange rate movements affect the export market entry and intensity decision of firms and the export behaviour of multinationals in the UK. Using data on British manufacturing firms we find that exchange rate movements have little effect on firm export participation but have a significant impact on export shares. Multinationals have at their disposal a greater array of instruments to deal with exchange rates changes, although their use may vary according to the motives behind FDI. We also find important differences according to the country of origin of multinational firms. Multinationals firms originating from outside of the EU are less affected by changes in the exchange rate compared to those inside, who appear similarly affected as domestic firms.     

The Effect of Joint Auditor Pair Composition on Audit Quality: Evidence from Impairment Tests

Using a sample of firms from France, where the law requires the use of two auditors, we study the effect of auditor pair composition on audit quality by examining a specific account, goodwill impairment. We document that firms audited by a Big 4–non‐Big 4 auditor pair (BS) are more likely to book an impairment and book a larger impairment than firms audited by a Big 4–Big 4 auditor pair (BB) when low‐performance indicators suggest a greater likelihood of impairment. Moreover, firms audited by a BB pair reduce impairment disclosures when they book impairments, while firms audited by a BS pair do not, suggesting lower transparency for firms audited by a BB pair. Our results inform investors and firms in mandatory joint audit regimes, as well as regulators who are considering requiring joint audits.     

Adjusting to Trade Liberalisation: The Case of Firms in the South African Textile Sector

This paper examines the responses of firms in the textile industryof South Africa to that country's rapid liberalisation of tradesince the early 1990s. The data reveal that there have beenincreased exports accompanied by reductions in employment andcontraction of production of yarns and fabrics. Drawing on asurvey of companies, followed by interviews, it documents howcompetitive pressures from imports have led firms to increasetheir exports. Exporting is not, however, directly associatedwith better performance. This is due to its being a responseby many firms to weak domestic demand and the need to maintainproduction capacity. But, liberalisation has also been accompaniedby much upgrading of equipment and by increased specialisationand vertical disintegration in order to develop competitiveniches despite South Africa's manufacturing wage levels beinghigher than those of many of its international competitors.Firms focusing on non-price factors of export competitivenesshave been better performing. Firms have also been most successfulwhere technological capabilities based on the domestic marketprovided a foundation for export competitiveness. There areindications that with the restructuring induced by liberalisationthe sector is in a position more effectively to exploit itscompetitive strengths in international markets. In addition,the United States' African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)offers some stimulus for the textile industry to supply fabricsto firms in the export garment sector which previously importedthem.     

The Effect of E-Business on Corporate Performance: Firm Level Evidence for Belgium

E-business offers buyers and sellers a new form of communication and provides an opportunity to create new marketplaces. In general it is suggested that the development of e-business results in higher firm productivity and efficiency as a result of lower search and transaction costs. However, there are a number of recent studies, which demonstrate that firms engaging in e-commerce need not perform better compared to more traditional enterprises. To date, there is little empirical evidence on the impact of information technology on corporate performance. This paper is the first that uses a large representative data set of Belgian firms to study empirically the impact of e-business on productivity and cost efficiency of firms. Our main conclusions can be summarised as follows: (1) The penetration of the Internet in Belgian firms is high; however, the use of e-business is still limited. (2) It is especially the large firms that engage in e-business and mostly in e-procurement. (3) E-business has no effect on total factor productivity in small firms; however, we find positive effects on performance of e-business in large firms.     

论我国中小物流企业的发展策略

我国的中小物流企业虽然发展迅速,但普遍存在服务质量、创新意识、品牌形象、营销手段、客户关系等一系列问题,阻碍了企业的发展。为此,必须在营销策略方面努力树立客户至上的服务理念,打造独具特色的物流服务,推广高附加值的增值服务,大力培养物流人才;在集团化方面确立适合的集团化经营模式和经营战略,这样才能够增强企业竞争能力,确保企业的顺利发展。