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Technological Capability and FDI in Asia: Firm‐level Relationships among Japanese Manufacturers

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  • Eiichi Tomiura

Abstract

The present paper reexamines the relationship between technological capabilities and FDI decisions at the firm level. The data cover 118 300 Japanese firms in all manufacturing industries. The R&D of Japanese firms has a noticeably weaker relationship with FDI in Asia than with FDI in industrial countries. This finding is confirmed to be robust even when alternative estimation techniques are used and when R&D expenditure data are replaced by patent data. The estimation results also reveal non‐negligible fixed entry costs for FDI, a finding consistent with the observation that only approximately 2 percent of the firms invest abroad.

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  • Eiichi Tomiura, 2005. "Technological Capability and FDI in Asia: Firm‐level Relationships among Japanese Manufacturers," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 19(3), pages 273-289, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaec:v:19:y:2005:i:3:p:273-289
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8381.2005.00213.x
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    1. Salim, Ali & Razavi, Mohammad Reza & Afshari-Mofrad, Masoud, 2017. "Foreign direct investment and technology spillover in Iran: The role of technological capabilities of subsidiaries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 207-214.
    2. Kun-Ming Chen & Shu-Fei Yang, 2013. "Impact of Outward Foreign Direct Investment on Domestic R&D Activity: Evidence from Taiwan's Multinational Enterprises in Low-wage Countries," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 27(1), pages 17-38, March.
    3. Barbieri, Paolo & Boffelli, Albachiara & Elia, Stefano & Fratocchi, Luciano & Kalchschmidt, Matteo, 2022. "How does Industry 4.0 affect international exposure? The interplay between firm innovation and home-country policies in post-offshoring relocation decisions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(4).
    4. Chan Sok GEE & Mohd Zaini Abd KARIM, 2011. "Fdi´S Country Of Origin And Output Growth: The Case Of Malaysia?S Manufacturing Sector, 1991-2006," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 11(1).

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