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B2B or Not to Be: Does B2B E-Commerce Increase Labour Productivity?

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  • Bertschek, Irene
  • Fryges, Helmut
  • Kaiser, Ulrich

Abstract

We implement an endogeneous switching-regression model for labour productivity and firms' decision to use business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. Our approach allows B2B usage to affect any parameter of the labour productivity equation and to properly take account of strategic complementarities between the input factors and B2B usage. Empirical evidence from 1,394 German firms shows that firms using B2B e-commerce have a significantly higher output elasticity with respect to ICT-investment and produce significantly more efficiently than firms that do not use B2B. Firms' labour productivity is enhanced by using B2B.

Suggested Citation

  • Bertschek, Irene & Fryges, Helmut & Kaiser, Ulrich, 2004. "B2B or Not to Be: Does B2B E-Commerce Increase Labour Productivity?," ZEW Discussion Papers 04-45, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:2184
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    1. Irene Bertschek & Ulrich Kaiser, 2004. "Productivity Effects of Organizational Change: Microeconometric Evidence," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(3), pages 394-404, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Derya Fındık & Aysıt Tansel, 2013. "Intangible investment and Technical efficiency: The case of software-intensive manufacturing firms in Turkey," EY International Congress on Economics I (EYC2013), October 24-25, 2013, Ankara, Turkey 235, Ekonomik Yaklasim Association.
    2. Yang, Zhuofan & Shi, Yong & Yan, Hong, 2017. "Analysis on pure e-commerce congestion effect, productivity effect and profitability in China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 35-49.
    3. Liu, Ting-Kun & Chen, Jong-Rong & Huang, Cliff C.J. & Yang, Chih-Hai, 2013. "E-commerce, R&D, and productivity: Firm-level evidence from Taiwan," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 272-283.
    4. Sarbu Miruna, 2017. "Does Social Media Increase Labour Productivity?," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 237(2), pages 81-113, April.
    5. Quirós Romero, Cipriano & Rodríguez Rodríguez, Diego, 2010. "E-commerce and efficiency at the firm level," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(2), pages 299-305, August.
    6. Fryges, Helmut, 2004. "Productivity, Growth, and Internationalisation: The Case of German and British High Techs," ZEW Discussion Papers 04-79, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    7. Sarbu, Miruna, 2013. "Does social software increase labour productivity?," ZEW Discussion Papers 13-041, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    8. Engelstätter, Benjamin, 2009. "Enterprise systems and labor productivity: disentangling combination effects," ZEW Discussion Papers 09-040, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    9. Derya Findik & Aysit Tansel, 2015. "​ Intangible Investment and Technical Efficiency: The Case of Software-Intensive Manufacturing Firms in Turkey," Working Papers 2015/11, Turkish Economic Association.
    10. Falk, Martin & Hagsten, Eva, 2015. "E-commerce trends and impacts across Europe," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(PA), pages 357-369.
    11. Khalid W. Alrawi & Hamid R. Ekbia & Khalifa H. Jaber, 2008. "A New Marketing Strategy for E-Commerce," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 9(2), pages 273-286, August.
    12. Zhu, Facang & Shi, Qiule & Balezentis, Tomas & Zhang, Chonghui, 2023. "The impact of e-commerce and R&D on firm-level production in China: Evidence from manufacturing sector," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 101-110.
    13. Bertschek, Irene & Niebel, Thomas & Nikogosian, Vigen & Ohnemus, Jörg & Rammer, Christian & Sarbu, Miruna, 2010. "Informations- und Telekommunikationstechnologien als Wegbereiter für Innovationen: Fünfter Nationaler IT-Gipfel. Dresden 2010," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 110539.
    14. Ohnemus, Jörg, 2007. "Does IT Outsourcing Increase Firm Success? An Empirical Assessment using Firm-Level Data," ZEW Discussion Papers 07-087, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Business-to-business e-commerce; labour productivity; endogenous switching regression model; survey data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity

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