Linked in by foreign direct investment: The role of firm-level relationships in knowledge transfers in Africa and Asia

Arbeitspapier

This study combines evidence from interviews in seven countries with (i) government institutions responsible for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), (ii) 102 multinational enterprises (MNEs), and (iii) 226 domestic firms linked to these foreign affiliates as suppliers, customers, or competitors. The purpose of the interviews was to identify whether relations between MNEs and domestic firms lead to direct transfers of knowledge/technology. We first document that there are relatively few linkages between MNEs and domestic firms in sub-Saharan Africa compared with Asia. However, when linkages are present in sub-Saharan Africa, they raise the likelihood of direct knowledge/technology transfers from MNEs to domestic firms as compared with linked-in firms in Asia. Finally, we do not find that direct knowledge/technology transfers are more likely to occur via FDI than through trade. As such, our results are not consistent with the view that tacit knowledge transfers are more likely to occur through localized linkages.

Angaben zum Objekt

• ISBN: 978-92-9256-603-6
• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Series: WIDER Working Paper ; No. 2018/161

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Wirtschaft ; Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology ; Economywide Country Studies: Asia including Middle East ; Economywide Country Studies: Africa ; Comparative Studies of Countries
• Thema: FDI linkages ; technology transfer ; Africa ; Asia

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Newman, Carol ; Page, John M. ; Rand, John ; Shimeles, Abebe ; Söderbom, Måns ; Tarp, Finn
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• (wo): Helsinki
• (wann): 2018

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: doi:10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2018/603-6
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/211199
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 10.03.2025, 11:43 MEZ