Technology spillovers: Kenya and Malaysia compared

This paper aimed at investigating the existence of productivity spillovers and their transmission channels in both Kenya and Malaysia firm-level panel data from the manufacturing sector for the period 2000–2005. Both countries have a long history of relying on FDI in industrial development. The existing literature on productivity spillovers suggests that productivity spillovers may be one of the most important effects that foreign MNEs impart to local firms in developing countries. Yet still, few studies exist in both countries on productivity spillovers and their transmission channels. Three spillover channels were examined: demonstration, competition, and information. In addition, the backward linkage channel was examined for the case of Malaysia. The results reveal that there is limited evidence of negative productivity spillovers from foreign firms to domestic firms through the competition effects in Kenya. In Malaysia, there is evidence of positive spillovers from foreign-owned firms to domestic firms through the demonstration effects. In addition, there is evidence of negative spillovers through the competition effects as well as backward linkages. There is also evidence of positive productivity spillovers from domestic firms to foreign-owned firms through backward linkages. Productivity spillovers are found to be dependent on the technology gap.     

Foreign firm characteristics,labour market restrictions and FDI spillovers: Evidence from Moldova

This paper investigates how productivity spillovers from foreign to domestic firms are affected by foreign firm characteristics and labour market conditions in Moldova. We use firm-level administrative panel data and annual survey region-sector indicators of labour market conditions in 2005–2014. Baseline regressions show that domestic firms benefit from backward FDI spillovers, while we find no evidence of horizontal or forward spillovers. Spillover effects are heterogeneous and depend on the ownership structure and age of foreign firms. Domestic firms in upstream sectors benefit from both wholly foreign-owned companies (WFOC) and joint ventures (JV). However, JVs need less time in the market for positive spillovers to materialise, while WFOCs only lead to larger spillover effects when they are older. In regions and sectors where firms experience fewer labour market restrictions, backward FDI spillovers are larger. Interacting foreign firm characteristics with labour market restrictions, we find that spillovers through the labour market channel materialise only for older FDI, regardless of ownership type. The results are in line with our expectation that WFOCs need more time than JVs to develop linkages with local suppliers and lead to spillovers through this channel. Moreover, in developing countries labour market restrictions reduce labour mobility and consequently, the size of FDI spillovers across industries.     

Firm heterogeneity and FDI-related productivity spillovers: A theoretical investigation

A number of existing empirical studies have attempted to estimate the foreign direct investment (FDI)-related productivity spillover effects to domestic firms in host economies using various methodologies and measures of FDI. This literature has produced mixed results. While some studies found positive spillovers, others reported zero or even negative spillovers. In this paper, using a model of firm heterogeneity, we provide a rigorous theoretical justification for the mixed findings. We show that FDI-related productivity spillover effects can be decomposed into a direct and an indirect effect. If the direct effect is positive then relatively less capable domestic firms that were not able to survive in the industry (before the arrival of foreign firms) can enter the industry, which decreases the average (expected) productivity of the industry. If this indirect effect is sufficiently strong then the overall impact of FDI on productivity of domestic firms can be zero or negative. Hence, irrespective of the type of FDI (vertical or horizontal) and control variables included in empirical models, one may find negative or zero spillover effects.     

Are there regional spillovers from FDI in the Swiss manufacturing industry?

This paper examines whether there are signs of regional spillovers from FDI, although evidence is still very scarce. It hypothesizes that (a) the assessment of regional spillovers relies on a detailed analysis of these effects, according to the channels by which they occur (namely, increasing competition, worker mobility, and demonstration effects); (b) the size and the extent of these effects depend on the interaction between their channels and the levels of existing technological capacity of local firms; and (c) spillover benefits tend to occur in regions where local firms largely invest in absorbing the best foreign knowledge. Using detailed firm-level manufacturing data from Switzerland, we have found that local firms gain from the presence of foreign firms in their region, but lose out if the firms are located elsewhere. Competition-related spillovers appear to be fully absorbed by local firms, with high technological capacities; worker-mobility-related spillovers are fully absorbed by low technology firms; while demonstration-related spillovers are absorbed by all groups of firms with mid technology firms experiencing the larger benefit. In addition, our results demonstrate that only local firms which have invested largely in the absorptive capacity benefit from spillovers, stemming mainly from technology transfer. This benefit seems to occur at both regional level and outside.     

Bring institutions into FDI spillover research: Exploring the impact of ownership restructuring and institutional development in emerging economies

Extant studies exploring the influences of foreign direct investment (FDI) spillovers on the productivity of local firms have provided conflicting evidence. In particular, they have largely overlooked the important role of institutional mechanisms in the host market in understanding the sources of the variation in FDI spillover effects on the productivity of local firms, especially in the context of emerging markets. Using a comprehensive panel data set of manufacturing firms in China during 1998–2007, our paper presents an integrative framework of how FDI spillovers affect the productivity of local firms in emerging markets. We identify an inverted U-shaped relationship between FDI spillovers and the productivity of local firms in China. This result suggests the coexistence of and the interplay between the opposing mechanisms of FDI spillover learning opportunity and adverse competition. Drawing on the institution-based view, this study also develops contingency frameworks and arguments to explore the question of if FDI spillover effects are contingent on, or independent of, a local institutional context especially in emerging markets. We find that institutional mechanisms, such as the institutionally determined ownership restructuring and the different levels of subnational institutional development within the host emerging market, significantly shape the variation of FDI spillover effects on the productivity of local firms. This research highlights the importance of incorporating institutional effects in understanding the FDI spillover effects in emerging markets.     

Foreign Direct Investment and Productivity Spillovers: Firm-Level Evidence From Chilean Industrial Sector

Using firm-level panel data, this article examines whether spillovers from foreign direct investment (FDI) make a contribution to productivity growth in Chilean manufacturing firms. The main contribution of this work is to apply a methodology to estimate, in a consistent manner, the productivity impact of investment climate variables, such as FDI. With this aim, the spillover effects from FDI are analyzed using a stochastic frontier approach (SFA). Productivity growth is decomposed using a generalized Malmquist output-oriented index. The results show positive productivity spillovers from FDI; higher competition is associated with larger spillovers; and firms with high R&D effort gain more spillover benefits compared to those with less R&D effort.     

我国对外直接投资的逆向技术外溢效应研究

本文选取我国对外直接投资比较集中且技术水平比较发达的九个国家(地区),利用我国和九国(地区)对外直接投资与技术创新的投入产出数据,测算我国的全要素生产率、母国和东道国的研发资本存量,实证分析了我国直接投资到这些国家(地区)所产生的逆向技术外溢程度。研究结果表明,我国通过对外直接投资渠道获得的国外研发资本存量能给母国带来正的技术外溢效应,只是由于我国对外直接投资相对吸引外资而言发展缓慢,因而其技术外溢效应相对较低。     

中国FDI水平溢出效应的Meta分析

本文通过从55篇研究文献中提取关于中国FDI水平溢出效应的相关信息,应用Meta回归分析方法考察中国FDI水平溢出效应的实证结论受何种因素的影响和所受影响的程度。本文Meta回归分析研究发现文献研究中指标的构建（被解释变量指标与FDI溢出效应指标）会影响FDI水平溢出效应的结论,区分FDI水平、垂直溢出效应后会降低得到FDI水平溢出效应是显著的结论的可能性;但文献研究中样本数据特征对FDI水平溢出效应的结论的影响更大,特别是文献研究中如果采用近期的数据会降低得到正向FDI水平溢出效应的可能性,采用的数据跨度越长（实际上是数据中包括的近期数据越多）会降低得到FDI水平溢出效应是显著的结论的可能性;文献研究中是否纳入控制变量对FDI水平溢出效应的正负及是否显著的影响不大,因此研究中国FDI水平溢出效应时模型的设定（主要是遗漏变量）问题并不严重。     

FDI对国有工业企业技术外溢效应的实证研究——基于宏观数据的联立方程模型分析

本文首先回顾了国内外关于FDI技术外溢效应的研究成果,深入分析了技术外溢效应的作用机制。随后,为了反映时间趋势和解决内生性问题,本文建立联立方程计量模型,并采用跨年度的工业宏观数据,实证分析了FDI对我国国有工业企业的技术外溢效应。结果表明,FDI对国有企业存在显著的技术外溢效应,并且这种效应是通过竞争与示范效应,以及产业联系效应产生的。并且近年来,随着市场竞争的加剧,外资与国有企业的联系越加紧密,这种外溢效应也在不断加强。基于分析结果,本文最后从不同角度提出了如何获取更大技术外溢效应的对策建议。     

双渠道技术溢出、技术进步和我国经济增长绩效——基于四因素脉冲响应函数分析

本文选取物化技术溢出渠道的两个因素——FDI和进口以及非物化技术溢出渠道的两个因素——专利和信息技术,通过构建一个包含上述四要素的技术溢出模型,实证分析得出:对中国TFP贡献度最大的是本国的研发存量,其次是FDI技术溢出,接着是专利技术溢出;进口溢出和信息技术溢出效应为负,且进口和专利技术溢出对我国TFP的作用不显著。该结论用脉冲响应函数也同样得到证实。因此,我国应注重自主研发的培养,从效率上保证经济增长的质量显得尤为重要。     

Productivity spillovers from foreign direct investment: evidence from Turkish micro-level data

This paper analyzes the productivity spillovers from foreign direct investment (FDI) using Turkish firm-level data for a more recent time period, 2003–2010, which coincides with significant FDI inflows both in manufacturing and service sectors in the region. The empirical model is derived from endogenous growth theory whereby the rate of technological progress is partly determined by technology transfers and spillovers from international contacts, our exclusive focus being on FDI-induced spillovers. The impact of FDI onto the firm-level productivity is evaluated via the channels of horizontal and vertical linkages. The empirical results show that horizontal linkages decrease the productivity of firms, whereas vertical linkages exert a positive impact onto the local productivity levels, thereby drawing attention of policy makers towards strengthening of supplier–buyer relationship between local and multinationals in order to optimize the benefits from FDI. This study also acknowledges the heterogeneity of local (foreign) firms and their differential capacity to absorb (exude) the FDI-induced externalities.     

我国外贸外资的技术溢出效应分析

技术溢出是发展中国家分享世界技术进步成果的重要路径,溢出的渠道主要包括国际贸易和国际直接投资(FDI)等。本文运用经拓展后的Coe&Helpman的贸易溢出计量模型,将我国从商品贸易以及FDI中所获得的技术溢出纳入同一模型中加以综合分析。经测度表明,我国外贸外资的技术溢出效应都较显著,且相互间存在着共生互补关系,但相对说来,外资的技术溢出效应略大于外贸的溢出效应;同时,国内R&D的资本存量对外贸外资的技术溢出效应有重要影响,并在此基础上,提出了相应的政策建议。     

FDI技术溢出效应及影响因素地区差异比较研究

FDI是资本、技术和管理等一系列要素的综合体,提升FDI的技术溢出效应,对企业技术进步、产业升级和增长方式的转变具有重要的现实意义。本文以外商直接投资理论为基础,实证分析FDI技术溢出效应的区域差异,考察地区差异影响因素,进而发现我国各地区特别是中西部地区存在很大的优化利用FDI、提升FDI对我国内资企业的技术溢出作用的潜力。     

FDI与内资企业技术进步之间的关系——以江苏省为例的实证研究

江苏省是我国重要的FDI聚集地之一,然而以这一地区为研究对象的关于FDI技术外溢效应的研究并不多见。本文以江苏省为研究对象,利用2000至2006年27个制造业行业面板数据,估算了FDI对江苏内资企业生产率水平和生产率增长率的影响。实证结果表明:在密集使用外资的江苏省内,FDI对江苏省制造业内资企业的技术进步效应主要依赖于行业间的产业关联,总体而言,行业间外溢效应显著,行业内的外溢效应并不明显。但在高附加值产业,内资企业的技术进步不仅来自于行业间的关联,而且来自于行业内部外资企业的技术扩散和竞争。     

Foreign direct investment,black economic empowerment and labour productivity in South Africa

The impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on domestically owned firms in developing countries has been widely debated in the literature. It has been argued that FDI provides access to advanced technologies and other intangible assets, which may spill over to the host country and allow domestic firms to improve their performance. While there is a substantial literature on this issue, for obvious reasons, little is known about the effect of FDI on domestic firms in the African context. Noting this gap, this paper uses two-period (2003 and 2007) firm level panel data from South Africa to examine the impact of FDI on the labour productivity of domestic firms. A key policy change during this time period was the passage of the broad-based black economic empowerment act (BB-BEE) and we also examine the effect of the interaction between foreign firm ownership and BEE on labour productivity. Regardless of the empirical specification, we find no spillover effects and no evidence that a greater degree of BEE compliance by foreign firms influences labour productivity.     

外商直接投资对工业行业内部的技术外溢

本文利用1995-1997,2000-2003年期间,中国工业36个行业的平行数据,使用固定效应模型和随机效应模型估计了FDI对工业行业内部的技术外溢,及影响技术外溢的因素。结果显示:在1995-1997年期间,FDI对我国工业行业内部有不显著正的技术外溢。技术差距较小、劳动密集型行业获得较大的技术外溢。在2000-2003年期间,FDI对工业行业内部有显著正的技术外溢。技术差距较大、资本密集型工业行业获得较大的技术外溢。因此,本文的政策含义是,工业行业的引资应偏重技术差距较大的资本密集型行业。     

Cross sectoral FDI spillovers and their impact on manufacturing productivity

This paper explores the relationship between FDI spillovers and productivity in manufacturing firms in five European transition countries. The novelty of our approach lies in exploring different mechanisms of horizontal spillovers and disentangling the impact of backward and forward vertical spillovers from services and manufacturing sectors. We rely on firm level data obtained from the Amadeus database and annual input-output tables. The results from dynamic panel model estimations reveal that local manufacturing firms benefit from the presence of foreign firms in upstream services, especially in the knowledge intensive services, and in downstream manufacturing sector. Demonstration effect is found to be negatively associated with domestic firms’ productivity, while worker mobility and increased competition appear to be the main channels of horizontal knowledge diffusion. The firms’ productivity is also influenced positively by human capital and intangible assets. Finally, we show that the direction and intensity of both vertical and horizontal spillovers depend on the absorptive capacity of domestic firms.     

Export Spillovers: Opening the Black Box

This paper studies the importance of export spillovers in a firm's decision to enter specific export markets and extends the current state of the literature by assessing different mechanisms through which they may occur, namely (i) labour movement, (ii) intra‐industry spillovers and (iii) inter‐industry linkages. We do so by exploiting a unique data set covering the universe of manufacturing firms in Denmark for the period 1995–2006 which combines transaction‐level export data, firm accounting data, employer–employee linked data and information from yearly input–output tables. We corroborate the literature on export spillovers by presenting robust evidence of destination‐specific export spillovers. The results suggest that labour mobility as well as intra‐ and inter‐industry linkages (backward linkages) are important channels for export spillovers, while presenting heterogeneous effects across firms of different size and export markets.     

外商直接投资技术溢出效应的空间计量分析

MoranI检验和空间相关系数检验都表明,FDI的技术进步作用存在空间相关。空间相关的主要原因是外资高技术产品进入市场引致模仿效应和竞争效应,而市场的选择并不局限于FDI投资地。这种空间相关性在1997年开始显著,到1999年达到一个相对的稳定值。空间计量模型回归结果表明,FDI的技术溢出效应超出挤出效应,FDI的技术进步作用的关键在于FDI的有和无,不在于量的不断增长,量太大反而产生挤出效应。因此当前应重视欠发达地区的外商投资,发达地区的外商投资则应避免其形成垄断。国内因素对技术进步的作用大于FDI的作用,研发人员的流动对技术进步的作用非常重要,而资本存量、RD资本投入的作用具有一定的地理局部性。     

The heterogeneous competitive effects of trade and foreign direct investment: Firm‐level evidence for European countries

This study evaluates the pro‐competitive effect of foreign market penetration with a broad firm‐level database that covers manufacturing industries in six European countries. The main contribution is the demonstration of the heterogeneous effects on host country competition of the two main channels of foreign market penetration that have been assigned fundamental differences by economic theory: imports and foreign direct investment. The results of dynamic estimates of firm‐level markups reveal a pro‐competitive effect of imports, while foreign direct investment shows no clear overall impact, suggesting a cancelling out of competitive pressure and spillovers. These findings matter for both future empirical research and policy considerations that must weigh the positive and negative effects of foreign market integration on the competitive environment and consumer welfare.