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International Technology Sourcing and Knowledge Spillovers: Evidence from OECD Countries

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  • Sophia Chen
  • Estelle Dauchy

Abstract

How much do firms benefit from foreign R&D and through what channel? We construct a global network of corporate innovation using more than 1.5 million patents granted to firms in OECD countries. We test the “international technology sourcing” hypothesis that foreign innovation activities tap into foreign R&D and improve home productivity through knowledge spillovers. We find that firms with stronger inventor presence in technology frontier countries benefit disproportionately more from their R&D. The strength of knowledge spillovers depends on the direction of technology sourcing. Knowledge externality is larger for firms in technology frontier countries than for firms in non-frontier countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophia Chen & Estelle Dauchy, 2018. "International Technology Sourcing and Knowledge Spillovers: Evidence from OECD Countries," IMF Working Papers 2018/051, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2018/051
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. International Monetary Fund [IMF], 2018. "World Economic Outlook, April 2018: Cyclical Upswing, Structural Change," Working Papers id:12768, eSocialSciences.
    2. Sebastien Bradley & Estelle Dauchy & Makoto Hasegawa, 2018. "Investor valuations of Japan’s adoption of a territorial tax regime: quantifying the direct and competitive effects of international tax reform," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 25(3), pages 581-630, June.
    3. Reda Cherif & Christoph Grimpe & Fuad Hasanov & Wolfgang Sofka, 2023. "Promoting Innovation: The Differential Impact of R&D Subsidies," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 187-241, December.
    4. Dudar, Olena & Spengel, Christoph & Voget, Johannes, 2015. "The impact of taxes on bilateral royalty flows," ZEW Discussion Papers 15-052, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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