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Innovation spillovers within business groups: Evidence from Korean chaebols

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  • Lee, Kyounghun
  • Oh, Frederick Dongchuhl
  • Shin, Donglim
  • Yoon, Heejin

Abstract

This study examines innovation spillovers within business groups, focusing on Korean chaebols. We find that an affiliated firm's innovation is affected positively by both within- and outside-group innovation spillover pools. Specifically, the impact of the within-group pool is more pronounced than that of the outside-group pool. We further find that within-group spillovers are stronger for affiliates with closer internal business relationships and for those whose controlling shareholders have higher group- or firm-level equity stakes. Finally, we show that greater within-group innovation spillovers lead to higher group-level innovative performance. Overall, our study suggests a pivotal role of business groups in promoting corporate innovation via effective innovation spillovers. (JEL G15, G30, O32, O33).

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Kyounghun & Oh, Frederick Dongchuhl & Shin, Donglim & Yoon, Heejin, 2024. "Innovation spillovers within business groups: Evidence from Korean chaebols," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:60:y:2024:i:c:s1566014124000463
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2024.101151
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation spillover; Corporate innovation; Business group; Chaebol;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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