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The role of multinational firms in international trade: The case of Japan

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  • Kiyota, Kozo
  • Urata, Shujiro

Abstract

This paper examines the role of multinational firms in international trade using firm-level panel data for Japanese firms between 1994 and 2000. Our results indicate that multinational firms dominate Japanese trade. In 2000, only 12.4 percent of Japanese firms were multinationals but they accounted for 93.6 and 81.2 percent of Japanese exports and imports, respectively. We found that multinational firms emerged from being exporters/importers. These results imply that firms do not make the choice of either exporting or undertaking FDI, contrary to the findings of previous studies. Rather, exporters make a decision on whether or not to undertake FDI.

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  • Kiyota, Kozo & Urata, Shujiro, 2008. "The role of multinational firms in international trade: The case of Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 338-352, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:japwor:v:20:y:2008:i:3:p:338-352
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    Cited by:

    1. Jörn Kleinert & Farid Toubal, 2013. "Production versus distribution-oriented FDI," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 149(3), pages 423-442, September.
    2. Aw, Bee Yan & Lee, Yi, 2008. "Firm heterogeneity and location choice of Taiwanese multinationals," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 403-415, December.
    3. TANAKA Ayumu, 2013. "Firm Productivity and Exports in the Wholesale Sector: Evidence from Japan," Discussion papers 13007, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    4. Kozo Kiyota & Toshiyuki Matsuura, 2006. "Why Is Multinational Status Important? Evidence from Job Creation and Job Destruction in Japan," Working Papers 555, Research Seminar in International Economics, University of Michigan.
    5. Shujiro Urata & Misa Okabe, 2009. "The Impacts Of Free Trade Agreements On Trade Flows: An Application Of The Gravity Model Approach," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Christopher Findlay & Shujiro Urata (ed.), Free Trade Agreements In The Asia Pacific, chapter 6, pages 195-239, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    6. Ivan DESEATNICOV & Konstantin KUCHERYAVYY, 2018. "Role of Past Experience and Intra-firm Trade in FDI Decisions," Discussion papers 18051, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    7. KIYOTA Kozo & MATSUURA Toshiyuki & Lionel NESTA, 2016. "Understanding the Cross-country Productivity Gap of Exporters," Discussion papers 16019, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    8. Ghahroudi Mehdi Rasouli & Chong Li Choy, 2020. "The Macroeconomic Determinants and the Impact of Sanctions on FDI in Iran," Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 34(1), pages 15-34, February.
    9. Kiyota, Kozo & Matsuura, Toshiyuki & Urata, Shujiro & Wei, Yuhong, 2008. "Reconsidering the Backward Vertical Linkages of Foreign Affiliates: Evidence from Japanese Multinationals," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 1398-1414, August.
    10. Kiyota, Kozo & Urata, Shujiro, 2008. "The role of multinational firms in international trade: The case of Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 338-352, August.
    11. Ivan Deseatnicov & Konstantin Kucheryavyy & Kyoji Fukao, . "Exports, trade costs and FDI entry: evidence from Japanese firms," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    12. Fulvio Castellacci, 2014. "Service innovation and the proximity-concentration trade-off model of trade and FDI," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 92-108, January.
    13. Ivan DESEATNICOV & Konstantin KUCHERYAVYY, 2017. "Exports and FDI Entry Decision: Evidence from Japanese foreign-affiliated firms," Discussion papers 17036, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    14. Inui, Tomohiko & 乾, 友彦 & イヌイ, トモヒコ & Matsuura, Toshiyuki & 松浦, 寿幸 & マツウラ, トシユキ & Poncet, Sandra, 2008. "The Location of Japanese MNCs Affiliates: Agglomeration Spillovers and Firm Heterogeneity," Discussion Paper Series a506, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    15. HOSONO Kaoru & MIYAKAWA Daisuke & TAKIZAWA Miho, 2015. "Learning by Export: Does the presence of foreign affiliate companies matter?," Discussion papers 15053, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    16. Fukunari Kimura & Kozo Kiyota, 2006. "Exports, FDI, and Productivity: Dynamic Evidence from Japanese Firms," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 142(4), pages 695-719, December.
    17. Emmanuel Dhyne & Selen Sarisoy Guerin, 2014. "Outward foreign direct investment and domestic performance : In search of a causal link," Working Paper Research 272, National Bank of Belgium.
    18. Hing, Vutha & Thangavelu, Shandre M. & Kong, Ratha, 2023. "Technology, Innovation, and Firm Competitiveness: Firm Level Analysis in Cambodia," ADBI Working Papers 1353, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    19. Rogelio V. Mercado, Jr. & Ryan Jacildo & Sanchita Basu Das, 2022. "US Dollar Dominance in Asia's Trade Invoicing," Working Papers wp45, South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) Research and Training Centre.
    20. Aw, Bee Yan & Lee, Yi, 2008. "Firm heterogeneity and location choice of Taiwanese multinationals," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 167-179, May.
    21. ITO Keiko & LECHEVALIER Se'bastien, 2010. "Why Do Some Firms Persistently Outperform Others? An investigation of the interactions between innovation and export strategies," Discussion papers 10037, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    22. WAKASUGI Ryuhei & TODO Yasuyuki & SATO Hitoshi & NISHIOKA Shuichiro & MATSUURA Toshiyuki & ITO Banri & TANAKA Ayumu, 2008. "The Internationalization of Japanese Firms: New Findings Based on Firm-Level Data," Discussion papers 08036, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F20 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - General
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory

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