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Technology, foreign-owned firms and competitiveness in the middle-income countries

Author

Listed:
  • Isabel Alvarez

    (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)

  • Georgina Maldonado

    (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)

Abstract

Some economies inside the diverse group of middle-income countries (MIC) have shown an ac-tive behavior in exports of technology-intensive goods that is strictly better than the group average. Among the factors explaining such a behavior we find the national technological capabilities that af-fect the dynamism of their productive and trade structure generating competitiveness gains. Another element is the potential impact that foreign direct investments (FDI) flows generate in those econo-mies since foreign owned firms have contributed to the industrialization and modernization of their productive systems. In this paper we show a descriptive analysis of those competitive factors through the Global Competitiveness Index from the World Economic Forum and the Enterprise Surveys form the World Bank, with the aim of highlighting the relative importance of them and the differences across middle-income economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabel Alvarez & Georgina Maldonado, 2009. "Technology, foreign-owned firms and competitiveness in the middle-income countries," Analele Stiintifice ale Universitatii "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" din Iasi - Stiinte Economice (1954-2015), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 56, pages 397-419, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aic:journl:y:2009:v:56:p:397-419
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    References listed on IDEAS

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