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Knowledge-based productivity in "low-tech" industries: evidence from firms in developing countries

Author

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  • Micheline Goedhuys
  • Norbert Janz
  • Pierre Mohnen

Abstract

Using firm-level data from five developing countries--Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa, Tanzania, and Bangladesh--and three industries--food processing, textiles, and the garments and leather products--this article examines the importance of various sources of knowledge for explaining productivity and formally tests whether sector- or country-specific characteristics dominate these relationships. Knowledge sources driving productivity appear mainly sector specific. Also differences in the level of development affect the effectiveness of knowledge sources. In the food processing sector, firms with higher educated managers are more productive, and in least-developed countries, additionally those with technology licenses and imported machinery and equipment. In the capital-intensive textiles sector, productivity is higher in firms that conduct R&D. In the garments and leather products sector, higher education of the managers, licensing, and R&D raise productivity. Copyright 2014 The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Associazione ICC. All rights reserved., Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Micheline Goedhuys & Norbert Janz & Pierre Mohnen, 2014. "Knowledge-based productivity in "low-tech" industries: evidence from firms in developing countries," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 23(1), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:23:y:2014:i:1:p:1-23
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    Cited by:

    1. Crespi, Gustavo & Zuniga, Pluvia, 2012. "Innovation and Productivity: Evidence from Six Latin American Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 273-290.
    2. Protogerou, Aimilia & Caloghirou, Yannis & Vonortas, Nicholas S., 2017. "Determinants of young firms’ innovative performance: Empirical evidence from Europe," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7), pages 1312-1326.
    3. Muhammad Zeeshan Younas, 2023. "Regional institutional quality and firm-level innovation: a case of selected south asian economies," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 615-643, February.
    4. Megersa Debela Daksa & Molla Alemayehu Yismaw & Sisay Diriba Lemessa & Shemelis Kebede Hundie, 2018. "Enterprise innovation in developing countries: an evidence from Ethiopia," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. M. Constanza Demmel & Juan A. Máñez & María E. Rochina-Barrachina & Juan A. Sanchis-Llopis, 2017. "Product and process innovation and total factor productivity: Evidence for manufacturing in four Latin American countries," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 1341-1363, November.
    6. Fatma Nur Karaman Kabadurmus, 2021. "Innovation Challenges in South Asia: Evidence from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 16(1), pages 100-129, April.
    7. Martin Srholec, 2011. "A multilevel analysis of innovation in developing countries ," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 20(6), pages 1539-1569, December.
    8. Daniela Ritter-Hayashi & Patrick Vermeulen & Joris Knoben, 2019. "Is this a man’s world? The effect of gender diversity and gender equality on firm innovativeness," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, September.
    9. Barasa, Laura & Knoben, Joris & Vermeulen, Patrick & Kimuyu, Peter & Kinyanjui, Bethuel, 2017. "Institutions, resources and innovation in East Africa: A firm level approach," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 280-291.
    10. Crespi G.A. & Tacsir E. & Vargas F., 2014. "Innovation dynamics and productivity : evidence for Latin America," MERIT Working Papers 2014-092, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    11. Kawaljeet Kaur & Swati Mehta, 2023. "Modes of Technology Accumulation, Total Factor Productivity and Indian Manufacturing Sector: Firm-Level Analysis," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 18(1), pages 7-43, April.
    12. Calza, Elisa & Goedhuys, Micheline, 2016. "Entrepreneurial heterogeneity and the design of entrepreneurship policies for economic growth and inclusive development," MERIT Working Papers 2016-043, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    13. Barasa, L. & Kimuyu, P. & Vermeulen, P.A.M. & Knoben, J. & Kinyanjui, B., 2014. "Institutions, Resources and Innovation in Developng Countries : A Firm Level Approach," Other publications TiSEM 4150bffe-8365-4b51-a7e9-d, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    14. Fu, Xiaolan & Mohnen, Pierre & Zanello, Giacomo, 2018. "Innovation and productivity in formal and informal firms in Ghana," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 315-325.
    15. Wadho, Waqar & Goedhuys, Micheline & Chaudhry, Azam, 2019. "Young innovative companies and employment creation, evidence from the Pakistani textiles sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 139-152.
    16. Edeh, Jude N. & Acedo, Francisco J., 2021. "External supports, innovation efforts and productivity: Estimation of a CDM model for small firms in developing countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    17. Chih-Hai Yang & Chu-Ping Lo, 2025. "Demographic Structure and Comparative Advantages: Theory and Evidence," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 26(1), pages 311-332, May.
    18. Phung, Thuy M.T. & Vermeulen, P.A.M. & Knoben, Joris & Thọ Đạt, Trần, 2018. "Made in Vietnam : The Effects of Internal, Collaborative, and Regional Knowledge Sources of Product Innovation in Vietnamese Firms," Other publications TiSEM b9296264-405c-4575-8893-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    19. Arega Shumetie & Mulugeta Damie Watabaji, 2019. "Effect of corruption and political instability on enterprises’ innovativeness in Ethiopia: pooled data based," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, December.
    20. Fagerberg, Jan & Srholec, Martin & Verspagen, Bart, 2010. "Innovation and Economic Development," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 833-872, Elsevier.
    21. M. Constanza Demmel & Juan A. Máñez & María E. Rochina-Barrachina & Juan A. Sanchis-Llopis, 2013. "Innovation and productivity: evidence for 4 Latin American countries manufacturing industry," Working Papers 1307, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L66 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Food; Beverages; Cosmetics; Tobacco
    • L67 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Other Consumer Nondurables: Clothing, Textiles, Shoes, and Leather Goods; Household Goods; Sports Equipment
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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