IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecanpo/v88y2025icp1685-1698.html

The impact of inter-enterprise collaboration on production efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Huo, Yanyu
  • Liu, Huan
  • Wang, Wenjia
  • Guo, Xue

Abstract

In the face of intensifying market competition and rapid technological advancement, enhancing production efficiency has become a strategic priority for firms. This study analyzes data from Chinese A-share listed firms from 2010 to 2021 to examine the impact of inter-enterprise collaboration on production efficiency. The empirical results indicate that collaborative activities significantly enhance innovation and streamline operations, thereby improving resource allocation and boosting productivity. These effects are particularly pronounced in capital-intensive industries and during periods of heightened economic policy uncertainty. The findings provide robust empirical evidence on the role of firm-level collaboration in promoting production efficiency and offer policy-relevant insights for supporting high-quality growth in emerging economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Huo, Yanyu & Liu, Huan & Wang, Wenjia & Guo, Xue, 2025. "The impact of inter-enterprise collaboration on production efficiency," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1685-1698.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:88:y:2025:i:c:p:1685-1698
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2025.11.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0313592625004539
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.eap.2025.11.002?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thierry Mayer & Marc J. Melitz & Gianmarco I. P. Ottaviano, 2021. "Market Size, Competition, and the Product Mix of Exporters," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Firms and Workers in a Globalized World Larger Markets, Tougher Competition, chapter 5, pages 109-150, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Shen, Bin & Xu, Xiaoyan & Chan, Hau Ling & Choi, Tsan-Ming, 2021. "Collaborative innovation in supply chain systems: Value creation and leadership structure," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    3. Fang, Yiwei & Francis, Bill & Hasan, Iftekhar & Wang, Haizhi, 2012. "Product market relationships and cost of bank loans: Evidence from strategic alliances," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 19(5), pages 653-674.
    4. Allen, Franklin & Qian, Jun & Qian, Meijun, 2005. "Law, finance, and economic growth in China," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 57-116, July.
    5. Volker Nocke & Stephen Yeaple, 2014. "Globalization And Multiproduct Firms," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 55, pages 993-1018, November.
    6. Li, Yaya & Zhu, Zhu & Guan, Yefeng & Kang, Yanfang, 2022. "Research on the structural features and influence mechanism of the green ICT transnational cooperation network," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 734-749.
    7. Henri Schildt & Thomas Keil & Markku Maula, 2012. "The temporal effects of relative and firm‐level absorptive capacity on interorganizational learning," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(10), pages 1154-1173, October.
    8. Volker Nocke & Stephen Yeaple, 2014. "Globalization And Multiproduct Firms," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 55(4), pages 993-1018, November.
    9. Bodnaruk, Andriy & Massa, Massimo & Simonov, Andrei, 2013. "Alliances and corporate governance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(3), pages 671-693.
    10. Quintana-Garci­a, Cristina & Benavides-Velasco, Carlos A., 2008. "Innovative competence, exploration and exploitation: The influence of technological diversification," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 492-507, April.
    11. Amici, Alessandra & Fiordelisi, Franco & Masala, Francesco & Ricci, Ornella & Sist, Federica, 2013. "Value creation in banking through strategic alliances and joint ventures," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 1386-1396.
    12. Fiordelisi, Franco & Ricci, Ornella, 2014. "Corporate culture and CEO turnover," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 66-82.
    13. Scott R. Baker & Nicholas Bloom & Steven J. Davis, 2016. "Measuring Economic Policy Uncertainty," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(4), pages 1593-1636.
    14. Liu, Duan & Peng, Liyun & Wang, Qiuhong & Wan, Hong & Yu, Nizhou, 2025. "Water resources tax and corporate R&D strategies: Policy effects on innovation investment and collaboration preference," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 2276-2298.
    15. Richard Blundell & Stephen Bond, 2000. "GMM Estimation with persistent panel data: an application to production functions," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 321-340.
    16. Thierry Mayer & Marc J. Melitz & Gianmarco I. P. Ottaviano, 2021. "Market Size, Competition, and the Product Mix of Exporters," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Firms and Workers in a Globalized World Larger Markets, Tougher Competition, chapter 5, pages 109-150, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    17. Owen, Sian & Yawson, Alfred, 2015. "R&D intensity, cross-border strategic alliances, and valuation effects," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 1-17.
    18. Chen, Jun & King, Tao-Hsien Dolly & Wen, Min-Ming, 2015. "Do joint ventures and strategic alliances create value for bondholders?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 247-267.
    19. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    20. Baumann, Julian & Kritikos, Alexander S., 2016. "The link between R&D, innovation and productivity: Are micro firms different?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(6), pages 1263-1274.
    21. James Levinsohn & Amil Petrin, 2003. "Estimating Production Functions Using Inputs to Control for Unobservables," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(2), pages 317-341.
    22. Dongmin Kong & Chen Lin & Lai Wei & Jian Zhang, 2022. "Information Accessibility and Corporate Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(11), pages 7837-7860, November.
    23. Mary Amiti & Shang‐Jin Wei, 2009. "Service Offshoring and Productivity: Evidence from the US," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 203-220, February.
    24. Diestre, Luis, 2018. "Safety crises and R&D outsourcing alliances: Which governance mode minimizes negative spillovers?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(10), pages 1904-1917.
    25. John Humphrey & Hubert Schmitz, 2002. "How does insertion in global value chains affect upgrading in industrial clusters?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(9), pages 1017-1027.
    26. Olley, G Steven & Pakes, Ariel, 1996. "The Dynamics of Productivity in the Telecommunications Equipment Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 64(6), pages 1263-1297, November.
    27. Meng, Shunjie & Xu, Xiaoxin, 2025. "Can digital infrastructure improve corporate productivity? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China✰," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1867-1884.
    28. Andrew B. Bernard & Stephen J. Redding & Peter K. Schott, 2011. "Multiproduct Firms and Trade Liberalization," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(3), pages 1271-1318.
    29. David T. Robinson, 2008. "Strategic Alliances and the Boundaries of the Firm," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 649-681, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Baoqing Tang & Bo Gao & Jing Ma, 2021. "The impact of export VAT rebates on firm productivity: Evidence from China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(10), pages 2798-2820, October.
    2. Zhang, Mingjing & Zhang, Yongshen & Zhang, Mingyuan & Fang, Boxuan, 2025. "Strategic alliances and stock pricing efficiency: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    3. Albornoz, Facundo & Calvo Pardo, Héctor F. & Corcos, Gregory & Ornelas, Emanuel, 2023. "Sequentially exporting products across countries," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    4. Mauro Caselli & Arpita Chatterjee & Alan Woodland, 2017. "Multi-product exporters, variable markups and exchange rate fluctuations," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 50(4), pages 1130-1160, November.
    5. Abeberese, Ama Baafra & Chen, Mary, 2022. "Intranational trade costs, product scope and productivity: Evidence from India's Golden Quadrilateral project," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Shuzhong Ma & Zengxi Hu, 2023. "Internet penetration and multi‐product exporters: Firm‐level evidence from China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(5), pages 1444-1470, May.
    7. Yuan, Jin & Liu, Qiren & Zhao, Can & Du, Jierui, 2025. "Export tax rebates, product ranking, and exports of multi-product firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    8. R. Monin & M. Suarez Castillo, 2020. "Product switching, market power and distance to core competency," Documents de Travail de l'Insee - INSEE Working Papers g2020-06, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques.
    9. Daniel Baumgarten & Michael Irlacher & Karin Mayr‐Dorn, 2022. "Internationalization strategies of multi‐product firms: The role of technology," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(4), pages 1929-1965, November.
    10. Mulyukova, Alina, 2025. "Services liberalization and product variety of manufacturing firms," Kiel Working Papers 2294, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    11. He, Shi-Ting & Sheng, Liugang & Zhang, Peng, 2026. "Air pollution as comparative disadvantage," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    12. Richard Bräuer & Matthias Mertens & Viktor Slavtchev, 2023. "Import competition and firm productivity: Evidence from German manufacturing," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(8), pages 2285-2305, August.
    13. Jamil, Nida & Chaudhry, Theresa Thompson & Chaudhry, Azam, 2022. "Trading textiles along the new silk route: The impact on Pakistani firms of gaining market access to China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    14. Forslid, Rikard & Okubo, Toshihiro, 2023. "Trade, location, and multi-product firms," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    15. Doerr, S. & Marin, D. & Suverato, D. & Verdier, T., 2025. "International trade and the allocation of capital within firms," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    16. Zhuoran Bai & Shuang Meng & Zhuang Miao & Yan Zhang, 2023. "Liberalization for services foreign direct investment and product mix adjustment: Evidence from Chinese exporting firms," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 363-388, May.
    17. Haichao Fan & Tuan Anh Luong & Edwin L‐C. Lai & Lina Zhang, 2022. "Import liberalization and export product mix," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(1), pages 419-457, February.
    18. Bao, Xiaohua & Blonigen, Bruce A. & Yu, Zhi, 2026. "Cross-product and cross-market adjustments within multiproduct firms: Evidence from antidumping actions," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    19. Jinyong Zhan & Xinrui Wang & Qian Li & Jiazhang Zhao, 2025. "Digital Industry Agglomeration and Export Product Diversification: Evidence from Chinese Firms," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 33(1), pages 64-100, January.
    20. Chen, Wenrui & Chen, Zhiwu & Qin, Ling & Shan, Yaowen & Xu, Weihang, 2024. "Strategic alliance, agency problems, and labor investment efficiency," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:88:y:2025:i:c:p:1685-1698. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/economic-analysis-and-policy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.