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Thinking locally: exploring the importance of a subsidiary-centred model of FDI-related spillovers in Brazil

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  • Anabel Marin
  • Ionara Costa

Abstract

This paper investigates FDI-related spillovers in Brazil. Contrasting to previous studies on other emerging economies, it found horizontal spillovers. However, spillovers did not arise simply as consequence of technology transfer from MNC headquarters as the standard approach presumes; nor were associated with differences in technological intensity across industries, in domestic firms' absorptive capability. Instead, spillovers were associated with particular kinds of localised knowledge-creation activities by subsidiaries. Those findings have both significant theory and policy implications. They help to make clear the explanatory limitations of the dominant 'centrally-driven' perspectives, and point to the relevance of focusing on subsidiaries' technological behaviour in order to explain the existence or not of FDI-related spillovers. This implies that government policies aiming at simply attracting FDI do not ensure that FDI-related spillovers will automatically take place. Instead, effective policies on this matter should be concerned with the innovative behaviour of already established subsidiaries.

Suggested Citation

  • Anabel Marin & Ionara Costa, 2010. "Thinking locally: exploring the importance of a subsidiary-centred model of FDI-related spillovers in Brazil," International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 3(1), pages 87-107.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijtlid:v:3:y:2010:i:1:p:87-107
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    Cited by:

    1. Anagaw Derseh Mebratie & Arjun S. Bedi, 2013. "Foreign direct investment, black economic empowerment and labour productivity in South Africa," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 103-128, February.
    2. Sarker, Bibhuti & Serieux, John, 2022. "Foreign-invested and domestic firm attributes and spillover effects: Evidence from Brazil," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    3. Isabel Álvarez & John Cantwell, 2011. "International Integration and Mandates of Innovative Subsidiaries in Spain," Institutions and Economies (formerly known as International Journal of Institutions and Economies), Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, vol. 3(3), pages 415-444, October.
    4. Moralles, Herick Fernando & Moreno, Rosina, 2020. "FDI productivity spillovers and absorptive capacity in Brazilian firms: A threshold regression analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 257-272.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI spillovers; subsidiaries; heterogeneity; localised innovation; Brazil; productivity; foreign direct investment; emerging economies; technology transfer; technological intensity; knowledge creation; policy.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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