Friday, September 01, 2006
RESEARCH PRESENTATION: R&D Spillovers Impact on Firm Productivity at the 33rd European Association for Research in Industrial Economics Conference
Dr Mario Kafouros, Lecturer in International Business at CIBUL presented a paper at the European Association for Research in Industrial Economics Conference on the impact of R&D spillovers on the productivity of Multinational Entreprises.
The paper investigates the direction and magnitude of R&D spillovers. Using panel data for multinational firms, it shows that although all MNEs benefited (in terms of productivity) from their own industrial R&D, only smaller and technologically sophisticated MNEs benefited from the research efforts undertaken by other firms within, as well as outside, the industry to which they belong. The findings indicate that the impact of R&D spillovers on the productivity of smaller MNEs – which usually introduce incremental rather than radical innovations – is even higher than that of their own R&D. By contrast, larger and low-tech MNES may be adversely affected by R&D of other firms. The results also imply that the concept of technological distance needs refinement as firms can utilize research results from apparently unrelated industries.
The 33rd European Association for Research in Industrial Economics Conference is one of the biggest conferences in the field of industrial economics attended by more than 450 participants; it took place in the economic division of the University of Amsterdam; 25-27August.
The aim of the Association is to provide a professional society for academics and practitioners with an interest in the field of Industrial Economics. The Annual Conferences of the Association provide the focal point of communication for members. At these meetings, which are held in a different country each year, selected ongoing research work is presented and discussed.
More detail about the research involved and copies of the paper can be obtained from Dr Mario Kafouros.
The paper investigates the direction and magnitude of R&D spillovers. Using panel data for multinational firms, it shows that although all MNEs benefited (in terms of productivity) from their own industrial R&D, only smaller and technologically sophisticated MNEs benefited from the research efforts undertaken by other firms within, as well as outside, the industry to which they belong. The findings indicate that the impact of R&D spillovers on the productivity of smaller MNEs – which usually introduce incremental rather than radical innovations – is even higher than that of their own R&D. By contrast, larger and low-tech MNES may be adversely affected by R&D of other firms. The results also imply that the concept of technological distance needs refinement as firms can utilize research results from apparently unrelated industries.
The 33rd European Association for Research in Industrial Economics Conference is one of the biggest conferences in the field of industrial economics attended by more than 450 participants; it took place in the economic division of the University of Amsterdam; 25-27August.
The aim of the Association is to provide a professional society for academics and practitioners with an interest in the field of Industrial Economics. The Annual Conferences of the Association provide the focal point of communication for members. At these meetings, which are held in a different country each year, selected ongoing research work is presented and discussed.
More detail about the research involved and copies of the paper can be obtained from Dr Mario Kafouros.
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