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Foreign outsourcing and firm-level characteristics: evidence from Japanese manufacturers

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  • Eiichi Tomiura

Abstract

Based on micro data of 118,300 firms without firm-size thresholds covering all manufacturing industries in Japan, this paper investigates the foreign outsourcing, distinguished explicitly from domestic outsourcing, at the firm level. Less than three percent of the firms are outsourcing their production across national borders. The fixed entry cost for foreign outsourcing is significant and related with the firm's human skills and foreign business experience. The firms tend to outsource more of their activities overseas when their productivity is higher or when their products are more labor-intensive.

Suggested Citation

  • Eiichi Tomiura, 2004. "Foreign outsourcing and firm-level characteristics: evidence from Japanese manufacturers," Hi-Stat Discussion Paper Series d04-64, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:hst:hstdps:d04-64
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    File URL: http://hi-stat.ier.hit-u.ac.jp/research/discussion/2004/pdf/D04-64.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign outsourcing; Firm-level data; Productivity; Capital-labor ratio;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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