R&D subsidies and business R&D: Evidence from high-tech manufacturing firms in Jiangsu

We investigate how R&D subsidies affect business R&D investments using cross-section data of high-tech manufacturing firms in Jiangsu province of China. Our estimations based on propensity score matching suggest that public subsidies positively influence business R&D investments. Further classifying firms into different groups by size, financial constraints, and ownership, we find that the stimulation effect is more significant and stronger for smaller firms, more financially constrained firms, and private-owned firms. The heterogeneity of policy effects with respect to export status, Relative Comparative Advantage index, region, and industry are also discussed.     

Export behavior and productivity growth: Evidence from Italian manufacturing firms

Export Behavior and Productivity Growth: Evidence from Italian Manufacturing Firms. — This paper provides econometric evidence supporting the hypothesis that exporting implies learning effects. Learning-by-exporting is modeled as a change, induced by export behavior, in the stochastic process governing firms’ productivity. Empirically, this is implemented by specifying cross-section regressions of labor productivity growth on measures of export behavior, controlling for past productivity growth and other firms’ characteristics. Using a sample of Italian manufacturing firms, it is found that exporters do not exhibit faster productivity growth. Nevertheless, growth in value added per worker has a positive and significant relation with firms’ export intensity. In other words, only firms substantially involved in exporting have a significantly higher rate of productivity growth. This result suggests that learning-by-exporting is by no means simply the outcome of the presence in the export market.     

Two-dimensional analysis of the impact of outward FDI on performance at home: Evidence from Japanese manufacturing firms

This paper empirically investigates two dimensions of changes in firm behavior and performance before and after foreign direct investment (FDI). The first dimension is the difference between vertical and horizontal FDI. The second dimension is the effect of outward FDI on firms’ production and non-production activities in the home country. In our careful empirical analysis we use the propensity score matching method to show that the impact of outward FDI differs by dimension, that is, by FDI type and firms’ production and non-production activities. In particular, while horizontal FDI increases demand for non-production workers, vertical FDI increases demand for skilled production workers.     

Tariff protection and workforce gender: Evidence from U.S. manufacturing industries

A data set of 266 four-digit SIC U.S. manufacturing industries is used to examine the relationship between tariff protection and workforce gender. The paper shows that industries with a relatively large proportion of women are more likely to be protected by U.S. tariff policy, even when factors such as wages and human capital are controlled. Furthermore, this result is robust in that it is not driven by any particular industry or industries.     

Social capability deficits and productivity behaviour of African manufacturing firms: Evidence from Lesotho garment producers

Despite attempts to induce strong competitiveness in African manufacturing firms, poor productivity performances continue to hinder their ability to operate successfully in international markets. This paper argues that, while many plausible explanations can be put forward for this failing, analysis of the firms' social and institutional contexts can provide useful insights into why they have continued to perform badly. Adopting the technological catch-up framework proposed by Abramovitz (1986) Abramovitz, M. 1986. Catching up, forging ahead and falling behind. Journal of Economic History, 46(2): 385–406. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], the paper uses the case of Lesotho garment producers to illustrate how an environment characterised by significant social capability deficits has a negative impact on local firms' competitiveness. Strategic interventions to improve the quality of infrastructural services deliveries are suggested as urgently needed remedial measures.     

Technology transfer on a two-way street: R&D spillovers through intermediate input usage and supply

Intermediate input usage is known to channel R&D spillovers across countries and industries. This paper highlights that technology also diffuses across countries and industries through intermediate input supply. Technology transfer to intermediates suppliers ensues from R&D that induces a demand for technologically advanced intermediates. I analyze R&D spillovers through intermediate input usage and supply for 18 manufacturing industries in 20 OECD countries over 1987–2009. Results support both use- and supply-driven R&D spillovers. Comparing their effects reveals interesting variations. Among domestic industries, intermediate input supply is the dominant channel. For international relations, both use- and supply-driven R&D spillovers are found.     

Innovation and exporting: evidence from Spanish manufacturing firms

This paper investigates the relationship between innovation and the export behavior of firms using data from a representative panel of Spanish firms over 1991–2002. It presents a simple theoretical model of the firm decision to export and innovate that guides the econometric analysis. Consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model, the econometric results suggest a positive effect of firm innovation on the probability of participation in export markets. The results further reveal the heterogeneous effects of different types of innovations on the firm export participation. In particular, product upgrading appears to have a larger effect on the firm export participation than the introduction of cost-saving innovations. These findings are robust to firm unobserved heterogeneity, dynamic specifications, and to the use of instrumental variables to control for the potential endogeneity between innovation and exporting.     

Multi-product firms,product mix changes and upgrading: Evidence from China's state-owned forest areas

Product selection matters for a firm's productivity and long-run growth. Recent theoretical and empirical studies indicate that an important margin of adjustment to policy reforms is the reallocation of output within firms through changes in product mix decisions. This paper examines the frequency, pervasiveness and determinants of product-switching and upgrading activities in firms located in China's state-owned forest areas during a period of gradual institutional and managerial reforms (2004–2008). We find that changes to the product mix are pervasive and characterized by adding or churning products rather than only shedding products. Moreover, changes in firms’ product mix have made a significant contribution to the aggregate output growth during our sample period. We also find that firms with different characteristics, human capital and market conditions differ in their propensity to diversify and upgrade product mix.     

R&D intensity and domestic and cross-border M&A of Japanese firms before domestic M&A deregulation

In this paper, we examine the determinants of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Japan prior to the deregulation of domestic M&A transactions. We reveal that firm growth strategies and institutional differences in domestic and cross-border transactions are key determinants of the differences in M&A behavior. Our estimates show that domestic M&A activities are negatively related to research and development (R&D), suggesting that low technology-intensive firms have a tendency to engage in domestic M&A. For cross-border M&A, firm R&D activities have a significant positive effect, implying that a firm's own technology is important for absorbing foreign technology or competing in the host country.     

Importing,exporting and performance in sub-Saharan African manufacturing firms

This paper examines productivity differences between internationally trading and non-trading firms using data on a sample of firms from 19 sub-Saharan African countries. The paper provides the first evidence of whether exporters, importers and two-way traders perform better than non-traders, and whether there are differences in performance between different types of trading firms in sub-Saharan Africa. Our results indicate that exporters, importers and two-way traders perform better than non-exporters, non-importers and non-two-way traders. We further find that two-way traders perform better than importers only or exporters only, results largely consistent with recent results for other countries and regions. Considering information on export starters, continuers and exiters we also present some evidence suggesting that there is no significant difference in performance between export continuers and starters.     

Economic performance and international trade engagement: the case of Portuguese manufacturing firms

By combining economic and financial data for Portuguese manufacturing firms with data on their exports and imports, we uncover some aspects of the relationship between international trade engagement and firms’ performances. In line with recent theoretical and empirical developments in the international trade literature: (i) we testify that Portuguese international trade is highly concentrated, especially on the import side, and both in inter- and intra-sector terms; (ii) we corroborate previous studies and theses according to which two-way traders outperform only importers, only exporters and above all domestic firms; (iii) we find that the greater the diversification of markets and goods (especially with regard to imports), the better the performance achieved by internationalised firms; (iv) we notice that the higher the intensity of firms’ international trade (especially imports), the better their performance; (v) we also present evidence that destination markets for exports and origin markets for imports are also important in explaining firm’s performance.     

U.S. Export performance in manufacturing industries: An empirical investigation

Zusammenfassung Die Exportentwicklung in der amerikanischen gewerblichen Wirtschaft: Eine empirische Untersuchung. — Die Untersuchung wurde im Sinne des ?Neo-Technologie?- Erkl?rungsansatzes der Handelsstruktur durchgeführt. Sie überprüft empirisch die Determinanten der Exportentwicklung in der amerikanischen gewerblichen Wirtschaft an einem allgemeinen Modell, das die wichtigsten erkl?renden Variablen umfaβt. Dieses Modell wird mit Hilfe der Hauptkomponenten-Methode getestet, wobei sowohl Querschnitts- als auch Zeitreihendaten (1956–1968) für zweistellige und dreistellige SIC-Nummern der Vereinigten Staaten verwendet werden. Zwei allgemeine Folgerungen k?nnen mit relativer Sicherheit gezogen werden. Die ausschlieβliche oder auch haupts?chliche Konzentration der Auβenhandelstheorie auf Kosten-Preis-Faktoren, die in früheren Zeiten vielleicht gerechtfertigt werden konnte; wird in unserer Zeit, nach der Revolutionierung des Verkehrs- und Nachrichtenwesens, des Managements, des Marketing und der industriellen Produktion, eigentlich unhaltbar. Obwohl die Ergebnisse dieser Studie noch keineswegs endgültig sind, zeigen sie doch, daβ viel erreicht werden k?nnte, wenn ein groβer Teil der Aufmerksamkeit Nicht-Preis-Faktoren gewidmet würde. Auβerdem wird es schwierig, einen Ansatz mit einem einzigen Bestimmungsfaktor zu rechtfertigen, weil dieser im günstigsten Fall unvollst?ndig ist, im schlimmsten Fall aber ernsthaft in die Irre führen kann.

---

Résumé La performance d’exportation des E. U. dans les industries manufacturières: Une investigation empirique. — L’étude s’approche aux explications ?neotéchnologiques? de la structure du commerce extérieur. Il s’agit d’une exploration empirique des déterminants de la performance d’exportation dans les industries manufacturières par un modèle assez général incorporant les variables explicatives les plus importantes et testé en utilisant l’analyse des composantes principales appliquées aux sections transversales aussi bien qu’aux seriés chronologiques (en couvrant la période de 1956–1968) des données de CUI en deux et trois chiffres. Il y a deux conclusions générales qu’on peut constater avec une certitude relative. Premièrement la concentration exclusive ou même primaire de la théorie du commerce extérieur sur les facteurs de prix et de co?t qu’on pourrait peut-être justifier auparavant, devient tout à fait intenable suivant notre temps avec les révolutions des communications, des techniques de management, des institutions de commercialisation et de l’organisation industrielle. Bien que les résultats de cette étude ne soient pas conclusifs, ils indiquent qu’on peut bien gagner en faisant beaucoup de l’attention aux facteurs non-prix. Deuxièmement il devient difficile à rationaliser une approche de facteur unique qui est incomplète dans le cas le plus favorable et qui peut être égarante au pis aller.

---

Resumen El desempe?o de las exportaciones de industrias manufactureras estadounidenses: Una investigatión empírica. — El estudio se realizó en el espíritu de las explicaciones ?neo-tecnológicas? de la estructura del comercio. Es una exploración empírica de las determinantes del desempe?o de las exportaciones estadounidenses en industrias manufactureras por medio de un modelo bastante general, que incorpora las variables explicativas más importantes y que es sometido a test por medio del uso del análisis de componentes principales con datos de comercio exterior de EEUU (para el periodo 1956–1968) a nivel de dos dígitos de la clasificación industrial uniforme (SIC) en forma de corte transversal y series de tiempo. Se pueden sacar dos conclusiones generales con relativa seguridad. Primero, la exclusiva o aún principal concentración de la teoría del comercio sobre factores de costos/precios, que tal vez podría justificarse en un período de tiempo anterior, se torna virtualmente insostenible en nuestros tiempos con revoluciones en comunicaciones, técnicas gerenciales, instituciones de mercadeo y organizatión industrial. A pesar de que los resultados de este estudio no son completamente concluyentes, ellos indican que se puede ganar mucho si se transfiere una buena parte de atención a factores distintos del precio. Segundo, se torna difícil racionalizar un enfoque en términos de un solo factor, que en el mejor de los casos es incompleto y en el peor de los casos puede ser seriamente enga?oso.

     

The effect of domestic and foreign competition on performance in Australian manufacturing industries

Summary and Conclusions This study investigated the role of both domestic structural factors and tariff protection in explaining inter-industry differences in profitability in Australian manufacturing industries. At no stage did concentration have a significant effect on profitability at the four-digit level of analysis, in comparison to its observed significant positive effect at the three-digit level. Other structural factors appear to be more important in explaining inter-industry variations in profitability in Australia. The effective tariff rate was negatively associated with profitability, the relationship notably being more highly significant in those industries enjoying higher than average tariff protection. It is suggested that this negative relationship for Australia may be due to a similar phenomenon noted in relation to Canadian manufacturing, namely that tariff protection has led to the permanent creation of too many sub-optimal production units, resulting in lower efficiency and decreased profits. A reduction in the effective rate of tariff protection given to high cost Australian manufacturing industries may therefore yield greater efficiency, as well as at the same time permitting the possibility of increased potential and actual foreign competition.This paper was written while the author was Visting Associate Professor at the University of Delaware. Thanks are due to members of the Industrial Organization Workshop at the University of Virginia for comments on an earlier draft, and to the Managing Editor for his suggestions. I am grateful to the Reserve Bank of Australia for support for this research from their Economic and Financial Research Fund. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author alone.     

Banking crisis and productivity of borrowing firms: Evidence from Japan

We investigate the effects of bank distress on the productivity of borrowing firms by using data on listed companies in the Japanese manufacturing industry during the 1990s. We find that deterioration in the financial health of banks, which is measured by a decline in the capital-asset ratio, decreased the productivity of their borrowers during the period of the severe financial crisis (FY1997–1998). Our finding empirically confirms the theoretical view that an increase in financial friction negatively affects the productivity of the corporate sector.     

A Duality Between Cost-Reducing R&D versus Quality-Improving R&D and Welfare Analysis in a Hotelling Model

Two versions of research and development (R&D) activities in a Hotelling model with endogenous spillover effect, one with cost-reducing R&D and the other with quality-improving R&D, are analyzed in this paper. The result points out that two such kinds of R&D activities will share identical strategic properties, and that we shall be able to derive the equilibrium strategies of a quality-improving R&D model from those of a cost-reducing R&D model, and vice versa. It is found that the special market demand in a Hotelling model in fact plays a crucial role as well. This paper also provides a welfare analysis, the results of which show that government intervention via taxing the locations and subsidizing R&D efforts can remedy the market failure resulting from excess differentiation on locations and under-investment on R&D expenditures in non-cooperative equilibrium.     

Debt,R&D investment and technological progress: A panel study of Japanese manufacturing firms' behavior during the 1990s

Based on a panel data set of Japanese manufacturing firms in research-intensive industries, we investigate quantitatively the extent to which outstanding debt affected firms' R&D activities during the 1990s. We find that massive amounts of outstanding debt had a significant, negative effect on R&D investment during that time. We also find that R&D expenditures were closely linked to firm-level total factor productivity growth over the same period. In fact, a ten-percentage-point increase in the debt–asset ratio lowered the rate of firm-level total factor productivity growth by 0.26 percentage points between 1999 and 2001, because it reduced R&D activities. J. Japanese Int. Economies 21 (4) (2007) 403–423.