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Physical capital, knowledge capital, and the choice between FDI and outsourcing

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  • Yongmin Chen
  • Ignatius J. Horstmann
  • James R. Markusen

Abstract

There exist two approaches in the literature concerning the multinational firm's mode choice for foreign production between an owned subsidiary and a licensing contract. One approach considers environments where the firm transfers primarily knowledge-based assets and assumes that knowledge is non-excludable. A more recent approach takes the property-right view of the firm and assumes that physical capital is fully excludable. This paper combines both forms of capital assets in a single model. There are subtleties, and added structure is needed to establish what ex ante seems a straightforward testable hypothesis: relatively physical-capital-intensive firms choose outsourcing while relatively knowledge-capital-intensive firms choose FDI.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongmin Chen & Ignatius J. Horstmann & James R. Markusen, 2012. "Physical capital, knowledge capital, and the choice between FDI and outsourcing," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 45(1), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cje:issued:v:45:y:2012:i:1:p:1-15
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2011.01684.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrzej Cieślik, 2017. "Determinants of MNE Activity in Poland: The Case of Firms from EU-15," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 5(1), pages 151-167.
    2. Karpaty, Patrik & Gustavsson Tingvall, Patrik, 2011. "Offshoring of Services and Corruption: Do Firms Escape Corrupt Countries?," Working Papers 2011:2, Örebro University, School of Business, revised 28 May 2012.
    3. Hyeog KWON, 2012. "Offshoring of Japanese Small and Medium Enterprises (Japanese)," Discussion Papers (Japanese) 12004, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    4. Naoto Jinji & Xingyuan Zhang & Shoji Haruna, 2022. "Does Tobin’s q Matter for a Firm’s Choice of Globalization Mode?," Advances in Japanese Business and Economics, in: Deep Integration, Global Firms, and Technology Spillovers, chapter 0, pages 49-69, Springer.
    5. Heyman Fredrik & Tingvall Patrik Gustavsson, 2015. "The Dynamics of Offshoring and Institutions," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 15(4), pages 1975-2016, October.
    6. Pol Antràs, 2014. "Grossman–Hart (1986) Goes Global: Incomplete Contracts, Property Rights, and the International Organization of Production," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 30(suppl_1), pages 118-175.
    7. Stefano Bolatto & Alireza Naghavi & Gianmarco Ottaviano & Katja Zajc Kejžar, 2023. "Intellectual property and the organization of the global value chain," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(359), pages 707-745, July.
    8. Kukharskyy, Bohdan, 2020. "A tale of two property rights: Knowledge, physical assets, and multinational firm boundaries," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    9. Andrzej Cieslik & Mahdi Ghodsi, 2021. "Economic sentiment indicators and foreign direct investment: Empirical evidence from European Union countries," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 168, pages 56-75.
    10. Cieślik, Andrzej & Ryan, Michael, 2024. "Institutional quality, the level of development and Japanese outward foreign direct investment," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    11. Andrzej Cieślik, 2020. "Determinants of foreign direct investment from OECD countries in Poland," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(1), pages 9-25, March.
    12. Adolfo Maza & Paula Gutiérrez-Portilla, 2022. "Outward FDI and exports relation: A heterogeneous panel approach dealing with cross-sectional dependence," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 170, pages 174-189.
    13. Cieślik, Andrzej & Ryan, Michael, 2023. "Host country corruption and Japanese outward foreign direct investment: A sectoral and industry-level analysis," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 70.
    14. Naoto Jinji & Xingyuan Zhang & Shoji Haruna, 2022. "Deep Integration, Global Firms, and Technology Spillovers," Advances in Japanese Business and Economics, Springer, number 978-981-16-5210-3, April.
    15. Cieślik Andrzej, 2019. "Determinants of foreign direct investment from EU-15 Countries in Poland," Central European Economic Journal, Sciendo, vol. 6(53), pages 39-52, January.
    16. Susanna Thede & Nils-Åke Gustafson, 2017. "Bending the rules, breaking the rules: How corruption and lobbying affect the investment market selection of Swedish firms," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(7), pages 1266-1290, July.
    17. Nowak, Verena, 2016. "Integration or Outsourcing: Combining Ex Ante Distortions and Ex Post Inefficiencies," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145897, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    18. Andrzej Cieślik, 2020. "What attracts multinational enterprises from the new EU member states to Poland?," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(2), pages 253-269, June.
    19. Tingvall, Patrik, 2011. "Dynamic Effects of Corruption on Offshoring," Ratio Working Papers 182, The Ratio Institute.
    20. Antrà s, Pol & Yeaple, Stephen R., 2014. "Multinational Firms and the Structure of International Trade," Handbook of International Economics, in: Gopinath, G. & Helpman, . & Rogoff, K. (ed.), Handbook of International Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 0, pages 55-130, Elsevier.
    21. Jinji, Naoto & Zhang, Xingyuan & Haruna, Shoji, 2019. "Does a firm with higher Tobin’s q prefer foreign direct investment to foreign outsourcing?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    22. Yongmin Chen & Ignatius J. Horstmann & James R. Markusen, 2012. "Physical capital, knowledge capital, and the choice between FDI and outsourcing," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 45(1), pages 1-15, February.
    23. Cristina Di Stefano & Luciano Fratocchi & Carmen Martínez‐Mora & Fernando Merino, 2024. "Manufacturing reshoring and sustainable development goals: A home versus host country perspective," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 863-875, February.
    24. Benjamin Bridgman, 2017. "Market Entry Mode: Evidence From The Golden Age Of Hollywood," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 55(2), pages 778-793, April.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior

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