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Openness and Technological Innovations in Developing Countries: Evidence from Firm-Level Surveys

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  • Almeida, Rita K.

    () (World Bank)

  • Fernandes, Ana Margarida

    () (World Bank)

Abstract

This paper examines international technology transfers using firm-level data across 43 developing countries. Our findings show that exporting and importing activities are important channels for the transfer of technology. Majority foreign-owned firms are less likely to engage in technological innovations than minority foreign-owned firms or domestic firms. We interpret this finding as evidence that the technology transferred from multinational parents to majority-owned subsidiaries is more mature than that transferred to minority-owned subsidiaries. Our findings also suggest that foreign-owned subsidiaries rely mostly on the direct transfer of technology from their parents and that firms that import intermediate inputs are more likely to acquire new technology from their machinery suppliers.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 2907.

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Length: 59 pages
Date of creation: Jul 2007
Date of revision:
Publication status: published in: Journal of Development Studies, 2008, 44 (5), 701-727
Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2907

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Keywords: foreign ownership; imports; exports; technology adoption; innovation; firm level data;

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