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Does FDI Work as a Channel for R&D Spillovers? Evidence Based on Swedish Data

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Author Info

  • Braconier, Henrik

    (The Research Institute of Industrial Economics)

  • Ekholm, Karolina

    () (Stockholm School of Economics)

  • Midelfart Knarvik, Karen Helene

    () (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

Abstract

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are important in transmitting technology across national borders. Not only do they allow for transfer of technology within the firm, but it is also believed that they are important channels for international R&D spillovers as well. This paper analyzes empirically whether inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) work as channels for international R&D spillovers. We utilize firm-level as well as industry-level data for Swedish manufacturing in the analysis. We find no evidence of FDI-related R&D spillovers - neither at the firm-level nor at the industry-level in Swedish manufacturing. The only variable that consistently affects total factor productivity is own investment in R&D.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by Research Institute of Industrial Economics in its series Working Paper Series with number 553.

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Length: 27 pages
Date of creation: 02 May 2001
Date of revision:
Publication status: Forthcoming in Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv.
Handle: RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:0553

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Postal: Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 8 665 4500
Fax: +46 8 665 4599
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Web page: http://www.ifn.se/
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Keywords: Multinational enterprises; Foreign direct investment; Spillovers; Research and development;

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References

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  1. Fosfuri, Andrea & Motta, Massimo & Rønde, Thomas, 2001. "Foreign direct investment and spillovers through workers' mobility," Open Access publications from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid info:hdl:10016/13207, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
  2. Neven, D. & Siotis, G., 1996. "Technology sourcing and FDI in the EC: An empirical evaluation," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 14(5), pages 543-560, July.
  3. Wolfgang Keller, 1996. "Are International R&D Spillovers Trade-related? Analyzing Spillovers among Randomly Matched Trade Partners," International Trade 9608002, EconWPA.
  4. Richard Baldwin & Henrik Braconier & Rikard Forslid, 2005. "Multinationals, Endogenous Growth, and Technological Spillovers: Theory and Evidence," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(5), pages 945-963, November.
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  16. Frank Lichtenberg & Bruno van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, 1996. "International R&D Spillovers: A Re-Examination," NBER Working Papers 5668, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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Citations

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Cited by:
  1. Cassiman, Bruno & Veugelers, Reinhilde, 1999. "Importance of International Linkages for Local Know-How Flows: Some Econometric Evidence From Belgium," CEPR Discussion Papers 2337, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  2. Narula,Rajneesh & Marin,Anabel, 2003. "FDI spillovers, absorptive capacities and human capital development: evidence from Argentina," Research Memoranda 018, Maastricht : MERIT, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology.
  3. Henrik Braconier & Karolina Ekholm & Karen Knarvik, 2001. "In search of FDI-transmitted R&D spillovers: A study based on Swedish data," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer, vol. 137(4), pages 644-665, December.
  4. Karpaty, Patrik & Lundberg, Lars, 2004. "Foreign Direct Investment and Productivity Spillovers in Swedish Manufacturing," Working Paper Series 194, Trade Union Institute for Economic Research.
  5. Giovanni Peri & Dieter M. Urban, 2003. "The Veblen-Gerschenkron Effect of FDI in Mezzogiorno and East Germany," Working Papers 31, University of California, Davis, Department of Economics.
  6. Giorgio Barba Navaretti & Davide Castellani & Anne-Célia Disdier, 2006. "How Does Investing in Cheap Labour Countries Affect Performance at Home? France and Italy," Development Working Papers 215, Centro Studi Luca d\'Agliano, University of Milano.
  7. Veugelers, Reinhilde & Cassiman, Bruno, 2004. "Foreign subsidiaries as a channel of international technology diffusion: Some direct firm level evidence from Belgium," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 455-476, April.
  8. Jürgen Bitzer & Holger Görg, 2009. "Foreign Direct Investment, Competition and Industry Performance," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 221-233, 02.
  9. Ejermo, Olof, 2004. "Productivity Spillovers of R&D in Sweden," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 15, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
  10. Linda Andersson, 2001. "Openness and total factor productivity in Swedish manufacturing, 1980–1995," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer, vol. 137(4), pages 690-713, December.
  11. Davide Castellani, 2001. "Firms’ technological trajectories and the creation of foreign subsidiaries," International Trade 0108003, EconWPA.
  12. Ruth Rama, 2008. "Foreign investment innovation: a review of selected policies," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 353-363, August.
  13. Narula ,Rajneesh & Marin ,Anabel, 2005. "Exploring the relationship between direct and indirect spillovers from FDI in Argentina," Research Memoranda 024, Maastricht : MERIT, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology.

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