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Risk and the technology content of FDI: A dynamic model

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  • Chang, Pao-Li
  • Lu, Chia-Hui

Abstract

This paper incorporates risk into the FDI decisions of firms. The risk of FDI failure increases with the gap between the South's technology frontier and the technology complexity of a firm's product. This leads to a double-crossing sorting pattern of FDI—firms of intermediate technology levels are more likely than others to undertake FDI. It is with the attempt to relax the upper bound of the technology content of FDI, we argue, that many FDI policies are created. The theory's predictions are consistent with the empirical patterns of FDI in China by US and Taiwanese manufacturing firms.

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  • Chang, Pao-Li & Lu, Chia-Hui, 2012. "Risk and the technology content of FDI: A dynamic model," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 306-317.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:86:y:2012:i:2:p:306-317
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2011.09.001
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chi, Meiqing & Muhammad, Sulaman & Khan, Zeeshan & Ali, Shahid & Li, Rita Yi Man, 2021. "Is centralization killing innovation? The success story of technological innovation in fiscally decentralized countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    3. Chang, Pao-Li & Lu, Chia-Hui, 2012. "Risk and the technology content of FDI: A dynamic model," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 306-317.
    4. Hu, Gang-Gao, 2021. "Is knowledge spillover from human capital investment a catalyst for technological innovation? The curious case of fourth industrial revolution in BRICS economies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. Chang, Pao-Li & Chen, Yuting, 2021. "Informal institutions and comparative advantage of South-based MNEs: Theory and evidence," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    6. Engemann, Martina & Lindemann, Henrike, 2013. "Testing the O-ring theory for FDI," Discussion Papers 24/2013, Deutsche Bundesbank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign direct investment; Technology; Risk; Spillover; Dynamic;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • O24 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy
    • 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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