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Why are Productivity and Wages Higher in Foreign Firms?

Author

Listed:
  • Sourafel Girma

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Steve Thompson

    (University of Leicester)

  • Peter W. Wright

    (CEPR and University of Nottingham)

Abstract

This paper uses a panel data framework to examine whether foreign firms in the UK have higher levels of productivity and set higher wage rates than domestic ones ceteris paribus, or whether this is due to unmeasured characteristics. Its main finding is that foreign firms are more productive, by between 8 and 15 per cent, being particularly efficient in their use of capital. These advantages feed through into the wage levels of their employees, whose wages are higher as a result, effects that are particularly pronounced for firms from the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Sourafel Girma & Steve Thompson & Peter W. Wright, 2002. "Why are Productivity and Wages Higher in Foreign Firms?," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 33(1), pages 93-100.
    • Handle: RePEc:eso:journl:v:33:y:2002:i:1:p:93-100
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    File URL: http://www.esr.ie/Vol33_1Girma.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Rachel Griffith, 1999. "Using the ARD establishment level data to look at foreign ownership and productivity in the UK," IFS Working Papers W99/06, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    3. Griffith, Rachel, 1999. "Using the ARD Establishment Level Data to Look at Foreign Ownership and Productivity in the United Kingdom," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 109(456), pages 416-442, June.
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    6. Mark E. Doms & J . Bradford Jensen, 1998. "Comparing Wages, Skills, and Productivity between Domestically and Foreign-Owned Manufacturing Establishments in the United States," NBER Chapters, in: Geography and Ownership as Bases for Economic Accounting, pages 235-258, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Robert E. Baldwin & Robert E. Lipsey & J. David Richardson, 1998. "Geography and Ownership as Bases for Economic Accounting," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number bald98-1.
    8. Heckman, James, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. John P. Weche Geluebcke, 2011. "Foreign Ownership and Firm Performance in German Services: First Evidence based on Official Statistics," Working Paper Series in Economics 213, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    2. Elliott, Robert J.R. & Zhou, Ying, 2015. "Co-location and Spatial Wage Spillovers in China: The Role of Foreign Ownership and Trade," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 629-644.
    3. Elhanan Helpman & Marc J. Melitz & Stephen R. Yeaple, 2003. "Export versus FDI," NBER Working Papers 9439, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. John P. Weche Geluebcke, 2012. "Foreign and Domestic Takeovers in Germany: First Comparative Evidence on the Post-acquisition Target Performance using new Data," Working Paper Series in Economics 249, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    5. John Weche Gelübcke, 2013. "The performance of foreign affiliates in German manufacturing: evidence from a new database," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 149(1), pages 151-182, March.
    6. 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.
    7. Koen De Backer & Leo Sleuwaegen, 2005. "A closer look at the productivity advantage of foreign affiliates," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 17-34.
    8. Cristina Jude, 2016. "Technology Spillovers from FDI. Evidence on the Intensity of Different Spillover Channels," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(12), pages 1947-1973, December.
    9. Bridgman, Benjamin, 2014. "Do intangible assets explain high U.S. foreign direct investment returns?," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 159-171.
    10. Cristina JUDE, 2012. "Horizontal and Vertical Technology Spillovers from FDI in Eastern Europe," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 710, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.
    11. Elhanan Helpman & Marc J. Melitz & Stephen R. Yeaple, 2004. "Export Versus FDI with Heterogeneous Firms," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(1), pages 300-316, March.
    12. Eduardo Saucedo & Teofilo Ozuna & Hector Zamora, 2020. "The effect of FDI on low and high-skilled employment and wages in Mexico: a study for the manufacture and service sectors," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 54(1), pages 1-15, December.
    13. Hyojung Kang, 2022. "The Effect of Foreign Direct Investment on Employment in Manufacturing Industry Sectors in Sub-Saharan African Countries," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper2205, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.

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