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Innovation and survival of exporters: A contingency perspective

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  • Deng, Ziliang
  • Guo, Honglin
  • Zhang, Weifu
  • Wang, Chengqi

Abstract

We challenge the traditional view that innovations always help exporters prosper in competitive international market, by developing and testing the premise that the relationship between innovation and export performance is contingent on some important firm-specific idiosyncrasies. With a large dataset of Chinese firms, the empirical results demonstrate that innovation could be detrimental to exporter survival. Such negative effect is more pronounced for firms that have weak profitability and high outstanding receivables, and also for those without foreign ownership. Nonetheless, we also observe a positive relationship between innovation and survival in highly profitable exporters. By identifying the negative rather than conventionally assumed positive effect of innovation, and the conditions under which innovation facilitates or impedes exporter survival, this paper contributes to the literature on the relationship between innovation and export in the context of emerging markets. Our findings have important implications for how managers develop innovation strategy to compete in the export market.

Suggested Citation

  • Deng, Ziliang & Guo, Honglin & Zhang, Weifu & Wang, Chengqi, 2014. "Innovation and survival of exporters: A contingency perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 396-406.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:23:y:2014:i:2:p:396-406
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2013.06.003
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    1. Vissak, Tiia & Masso, Jaan, 2015. "Export patterns: Typology development and application to Estonian data," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 652-664.
    2. Qun Tan & Carlos M. P. Sousa, 2019. "Why Poor Performance is Not Enough for a Foreign Exit: The Importance of Innovation Capability and International Experience," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 465-498, June.
    3. Sanjai Kumar Shukla & Sushil & Manoj Kumar Sharma, 2019. "Managerial Paradox Toward Flexibility: Emergent Views Using Thematic Analysis of Literature," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(4), pages 349-370, December.
    4. Stephanie E. Mansion & Andreas Bausch, 2020. "Intangible assets and SMEs’ export behavior: a meta-analytical perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 727-760, October.
    5. Deng, Ziliang & Wang, Zeyu, 2016. "Early-mover advantages at cross-border business-to-business e-commerce portals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(12), pages 6002-6011.
    6. Lota Tamini & Aristide B. Valéa, 2019. "Innovation Activities and Export Performance of Canadian Small and Medium-Sized Agri-Food Firms," CIRANO Working Papers 2019s-09, CIRANO.
    7. Dae-Hwan Kim & Matarr O. Sambou & Moo-Sup Jung, 2016. "Does Technology Transfer Help Small and Medium Companies? Empirical Evidence from Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 8(11), pages 1-1, November.
    8. Love, James H. & Máñez, Juan A., 2019. "Persistence in exporting: Cumulative and punctuated learning effects," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 74-89.
    9. Meihong Dai & Xianneng Li & Yuduo Lu, 2017. "How Urbanization Economies Impact TFP of R&D Performers: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 9(10), pages 1-1, September.
    10. Wang, Qizhen & Zhu, Yingming & Wang, Yudong, 2017. "The effects of oil shocks on export duration of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 55-61.

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