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The Gravity of R&D FDIs

Author

Listed:
  • Davide Castellani

    (Department of Economics, Finance and Statistics, Università di Perugia)

  • Alfredo Jimenez Palmero

    (Department of Economics and Business Administration, University of Burgos, Spain)

  • Antonello Zanfei

    (Department of Economics, Society & Politics, Università di Urbino "Carlo Bo")

Abstract

The negative effect of distance is justified by the existence of transport costs which hamper the international exchange of final and intermediate goods, and by higher uncertainty about local markets. We submit that distance plays a remarkably different role in the case of R&D FDIs since they mainly involve the international transfer, absorption and use of knowledge. Using data on bilateral investment projects in R&D, manufacturing and other business activities between 58 countries, we find that geographic distance does not hinder R&D FDIs as much as in the case of production and other investment activities. Furthermore, once we control for institutional and psychic distance, in particular language and religious differences, the negative effect of geographic distance vanishes.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Castellani & Alfredo Jimenez Palmero & Antonello Zanfei, 2011. "The Gravity of R&D FDIs," Working Papers 1106, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics - Scientific Committee - L. Stefanini & G. Travaglini, revised 2011.
    • Handle: RePEc:urb:wpaper:11_06
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    File URL: http://www.econ.uniurb.it/RePEc/urb/wpaper/WP_11_06.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bruce A. Blonigen & Ronald B. Davies & Keith Head, 2003. "Estimating the Knowledge-Capital Model of the Multinational Enterprise: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(3), pages 980-994, June.
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    3. David Hummels & Alexandre Skiba, 2004. "Shipping the Good Apples Out? An Empirical Confirmation of the Alchian-Allen Conjecture," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 112(6), pages 1384-1402, December.
    4. J. M. C. Santos Silva & Silvana Tenreyro, 2006. "The Log of Gravity," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 88(4), pages 641-658, November.
    5. von Zedtwitz, Maximilian & Gassmann, Oliver, 2002. "Market versus technology drive in R&D internationalization: four different patterns of managing research and development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 569-588, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Falk, 2016. "Austria 2025 – Corporate Investment in Austria. Stylised Facts, Impacts, Determinants and Investment Policies," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 59183, February.
    2. Martin Falk, 2012. "Determinants of Greenfield Investment in Knowledge Intensive Business Services," FIW Research Reports series IV-002, FIW.
    3. Sara Amoroso & Mafini Dosso & Pietro Moncada-Paterno-Castello, 2015. "The impact of skill endowments and collective bargaining on knowledge-intensive greenfield FDI," JRC Working Papers on Corporate R&D and Innovation 2015-08, Joint Research Centre.
    4. Martin Falk, 2013. "New Empirical Findings for International Investment in Intangible Assets. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 30," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 46891, April.
    5. Noailly, Joëlle & Ryfisch, David, 2015. "Multinational firms and the internationalization of green R&D: A review of the evidence and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 218-228.
    6. Dettmann, Eva & Dominguez Lacasa, Iciar & Günther, Jutta & Jindra, Björn, 2013. "Determinants of Foreign Technological Activity in German Regions – A Count Model Analysis of Transnational Patents (1996-2009)," IWH Discussion Papers 12/2013, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    7. repec:wsr:ecbook:2010:i:iv-002 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Dettmann, Eva & Lacasa, Iciar Dominguez & Guenther, Jutta & Jindra, Bjorn, 2014. "Детерминанты Зарубежной Технологической Активности В Германии - Количественный Анализ Транснациональных Патентов [Determinants of Foreign Technological Activity in German Regions - A Count Model An," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 34-51.
    9. Eva Dettmann & Iciar Dominguez Lacasa & Jutta Guenther & Bjorn Jindra, 2014. "Determinants of Foreign Technological Activity in German Regions - A Count Model Analysis of Transnational Patents," Foresight and STI Governance (Foresight-Russia till No. 3/2015), National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 34-51.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multinational Firms; International Business; Technological Change; Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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