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Leaders, laggards and technology seeking strategies

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  • Smeets, Roger
  • Bosker, E.M.

Abstract

We analyze the conditions determining optimal technology seeking strategies for leader and laggard firms. We extend existing theories by differentiating leaders and laggards in terms of absorptive capacity and intra-firm technology transfer skills, next to productivity levels. In addition, both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as exports function as two alternative technology seeking strategies. Our theoretical results demonstrate that for a wide range of parameter settings, leaders optimally seek technology through FDI, whereas laggards do so through exports. Confronting these findings with some original exploratory industry-level analysis complemented by insights derived from case studies, we find broad overall support for our theoretical predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Smeets, Roger & Bosker, E.M., 2011. "Leaders, laggards and technology seeking strategies," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 80(3), pages 481-497.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:80:y:2011:i:3:p:481-497
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2011.05.003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI; Exports; Technology seeking; Knowledge spillovers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • 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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