IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v200y2024ics0040162523008211.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Innovation and OFDI along the Belt and Road

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Yongmin
  • Zhang, Zhenbang
  • Jin, Hanglin
  • Tu, Wenjun
  • Liu, Yingnan

Abstract

Outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has become an important strategy for enhancing firms' innovation capabilities through the reverse technology spillover effects from overseas innovation experience. The extant research on the effect of OFDI on innovation has focused primarily on developed economies, while the influence of OFDI in developing countries has remained relatively unexplored. The major Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) encourages Chinese firms to invest in Belt and Road (BR) countries—mainly developing nations. We investigate the impact of BR OFDI on Chinese firms' innovations and its influencing mechanisms. The main findings are as follows. First, BR OFDI has a positive effect on innovation by increasing R&D spending and returns on investments in overseas subsidiaries. Second, the number of research-driven subsidiaries has a positive moderating effect on innovation. Finally, the BR ODFI innovative effect is stronger after the launch of the BR initiative in 2013 and more significant for nonstate-owned enterprises. Our research has theoretical significance by uncovering the overseas return mechanism and the moderating effects of investment depth and motivation on the impact of BR OFDI on innovation—topics rarely explored in the OFDI literature. These research findings have practical implications for governments designing effective policies to promote BR OFDI activities and for firms developing robust OFDI investment strategies along the Belt and Road to improve their innovation performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yongmin & Zhang, Zhenbang & Jin, Hanglin & Tu, Wenjun & Liu, Yingnan, 2024. "Innovation and OFDI along the Belt and Road," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:200:y:2024:i:c:s0040162523008211
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123136
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162523008211
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123136?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Louis T. Wells, 1983. "Third World Multinationals: The Rise of Foreign Investments from Developing Countries," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 026273169x, December.
    2. Reddy, Ketan & Sasidharan, Subash & Doytch, Nadia, 2022. "Outward foreign direct investment and domestic innovation efforts: Evidence from India," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    3. Philippe Aghion & John Van Reenen & Luigi Zingales, 2013. "Innovation and Institutional Ownership," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(1), pages 277-304, February.
    4. Desbordes, Rodolphe & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2017. "The effects of financial development on foreign direct investment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 153-168.
    5. Piperopoulos, Panagiotis & Wu, Jie & Wang, Chengqi, 2018. "Outward FDI, location choices and innovation performance of emerging market enterprises," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 232-240.
    6. Aghion, Philippe & Howitt, Peter, 1992. "A Model of Growth through Creative Destruction," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 60(2), pages 323-351, March.
    7. Fei Nie & Jian Li & Xiaoli Etienne & Gucheng Li, 2023. "Impact of Outward Foreign Direct Investment on Chinese Manufacturing Firms' Financialization and Servitization," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 31(2), pages 112-136, March.
    8. Ren, Xiaoyan & Yang, Shuili, 2020. "Empirical study on location choice of Chinese OFDI," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    9. Castellani, Davide & Montresor, Sandro & Schubert, Torben & Vezzani, Antonio, 2017. "Multinationality, R&D and productivity: Evidence from the top R&D investors worldwide," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 405-416.
    10. Hu, Feng & Xi, Xun & Zhang, Yueyue, 2021. "Influencing mechanism of reverse knowledge spillover on investment enterprises’ technological progress: An empirical examination of Chinese firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    11. Soriano, Domingo Ribeiro & Huarng, Kun-Huang, 2013. "Innovation and entrepreneurship in knowledge industries," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 1964-1969.
    12. Rajesh Chakrabarti & Swasti Gupta-Mukherjee & Narayanan Jayaraman, 2009. "Mars–Venus marriages: Culture and cross-border M&A," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(2), pages 216-236, February.
    13. Hurtado-Torres, Nuria E. & Aragón-Correa, J. Alberto & Ortiz-de-Mandojana, Natalia, 2018. "How does R&D internationalization in multinational firms affect their innovative performance? The moderating role of international collaboration in the energy industry," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 514-527.
    14. Magnus Blomstrom & Denise Konan & Robert E. Lipsey, 2000. "FDI in the Restructuring of the Japanese Economy," NBER Working Papers 7693, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    16. Ayyagari, Meghana & Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli & Maksimovic, Vojislav, 2011. "Firm Innovation in Emerging Markets: The Role of Finance, Governance, and Competition," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 46(6), pages 1545-1580, December.
    17. Liu, Xiaohui & Lu, Jiangyong & Chizema, Amon, 2014. "Top executive compensation, regional institutions and Chinese OFDI," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 143-155.
    18. Tang, Qingqing & Gu, Flora F. & Xie, En & Wu, Zhan, 2020. "Exploratory and exploitative OFDI from emerging markets: Impacts on firm performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    19. X Martin & R Salomon, 2003. "Knowledge transfer capacity and its implications for the theory of the multinational corporation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 34(4), pages 356-373, July.
    20. Jin Hong & Chongyang Zhou & Yanrui Wu & Ruicheng Wang & Dora Marinova, 2019. "Technology Gap, Reverse Technology Spillover and Domestic Innovation Performance in Outward Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 27(2), pages 1-23, March.
    21. Yadong Luo & Rosalie L Tung, 2018. "A general theory of springboard MNEs," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(2), pages 129-152, February.
    22. repec:cup:jfinqa:v:46:y:2011:i:06:p:1545-1580_00 is not listed on IDEAS
    23. Xuan Tian & Tracy Yue Wang, 2014. "Tolerance for Failure and Corporate Innovation," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 27(1), pages 211-255, January.
    24. Kun-Ming Chen & Shu-Fei Yang, 2013. "Impact of Outward Foreign Direct Investment on Domestic R&D Activity: Evidence from Taiwan's Multinational Enterprises in Low-wage Countries," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 27(1), pages 17-38, March.
    25. Dong, Zhixiao & Miao, Zhuang & Zhang, Yan, 2021. "The impact of China’s outward foreign direct investment on domestic innovation," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    26. James R. Brown & Gustav Martinsson & Bruce C. Petersen, 2013. "Law, Stock Markets, and Innovation," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 68(4), pages 1517-1549, August.
    27. Cozza, C. & Rabellotti, R. & Sanfilippo, M., 2015. "The impact of outward FDI on the performance of Chinese firms," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 42-57.
    28. Amore, Mario Daniele & Schneider, Cédric & Žaldokas, Alminas, 2013. "Credit supply and corporate innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(3), pages 835-855.
    29. Waseem Ahmad Khan & Zia Ur Rahman & Jianming Ye, 2023. "Exploring the potential determinants of Chinese OFDI towards OBOR nations: an application of gravity model," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 1067-1085, July.
    30. Irma Booyens, 2011. "Are small, medium- and micro-sized enterprises engines of innovation? The reality in South Africa," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 38(1), pages 67-78, February.
    31. Scaperlanda, Anthony E & Mauer, Laurence J, 1969. "The Determinants of U.S. Direct Investment in the E.E.C," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 59(4), pages 558-568, Part I Se.
    32. John Dunning, 1981. "Explaining the international direct investment position of countries: Towards a dynamic or developmental approach," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 117(1), pages 30-64, March.
    33. Wenbin Long & Le Luo & Hongfeng Sun & Qiqi Zhong, 2023. "Does going abroad lead to going green? Firm outward foreign direct investment and domestic environmental performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 484-498, January.
    34. Yang, Jiao-Hui & Wang, Wei & Wang, Kai-Li & Yeh, Chung-Ying, 2018. "Capital intensity, natural resources, and institutional risk preferences in Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 259-272.
    35. Jiang, Mingrui & Luo, Sumei & Zhou, Guangyou, 2020. "Financial development, OFDI spillovers and upgrading of industrial structure," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    36. Hsu, Po-Hsuan & Tian, Xuan & Xu, Yan, 2014. "Financial development and innovation: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(1), pages 116-135.
    37. Sheng Ma & Xinxin Xu & Ziqiang Zeng & Lin Wang, 2020. "Chinese Industrial Outward FDI Location Choice in ASEAN Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hou, Qingsong & Hu, May & Yuan, Yuan, 2017. "Corporate innovation and political connections in Chinese listed firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA), pages 158-176.
    2. Shi, Xing & Zeng, Yujie & Wu, Yanrui & Wang, Shuai, 2023. "Outward foreign direct investment and green innovation in Chinese multinational companies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    3. Xing Shi & Yujie Zeng & Yanrui Wu & Shuai Wang, 2023. "Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Green Innovation in Chinese Multinational Companies," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 23-05, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    4. Acharya, Viral & Xu, Zhaoxia, 2017. "Financial dependence and innovation: The case of public versus private firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(2), pages 223-243.
    5. Hardy, Bryan & Sever, Can, 2021. "Financial crises and innovation," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    6. Huang, Yi-Hou & Liang, Woan-lih & Truong, Quang-Thai & Wang, Yanzhi, 2022. "No new tricks for old dogs? Old directors and innovation performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    7. Mukherjee, Abhiroop & Singh, Manpreet & Žaldokas, Alminas, 2017. "Do corporate taxes hinder innovation?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(1), pages 195-221.
    8. Hassan, M. Kabir & Houston, Reza & Karim, M. Sydul, 2021. "Courting innovation: The effects of litigation risk on corporate innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    9. Ding, Xiaoya (Sara) & Guo, Mengmeng & Kuai, Yicheng & Niu, Geng, 2023. "Social trust and firm innovation: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 474-493.
    10. Çağatay Bircan & Ralph De Haas, 2020. "The Limits of Lending? Banks and Technology Adoption across Russia," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(2), pages 536-609.
    11. Chen, Jie & Leung, Woon Sau & Evans, Kevin P., 2016. "Are employee-friendly workplaces conducive to innovation?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 61-79.
    12. Moshirian, Fariborz & Tian, Xuan & Zhang, Bohui & Zhang, Wenrui, 2021. "Stock market liberalization and innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(3), pages 985-1014.
    13. Huang, Hongyun & Mbanyele, William & Wang, Fengrong & Song, Malin & Wang, Yuzhang, 2022. "Climbing the quality ladder of green innovation: Does green finance matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    14. Danlin Shen & Carl R. Chen & Xinyan Yan & Zhihong Yi, 2022. "Do credit market accessibility and legal protection shape corporate innovation?," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 45(3), pages 719-754, September.
    15. Cornaggia, Jess & Mao, Yifei & Tian, Xuan & Wolfe, Brian, 2015. "Does banking competition affect innovation?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 189-209.
    16. Cui, Lin & Gao, Qiuling & Guo, Jinyu & Ma, Pengcheng, 2022. "OFDI performance of EMNEs: A review and recommendations for future research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    17. Shusen Qi & Steven Ongena, 2020. "Fuel the Engine: Bank Credit and Firm Innovation," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 57(2), pages 115-147, April.
    18. Yi, Zhaoying & Xu, Xiaowei & Wei, Minghai & Lin, Bingxuan, 2023. "Foreign institutional ownership externalities and supplier innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    19. Gu, Leilei & Ni, Xiaoran & Peng, Yuchao & Zhang, Huilin, 2020. "Entry of foreign banks, state ownership, and corporate innovation," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    20. He, Yuqian & Tang, Song & Wang, Lanfang & Wang, Susheng & Yu, Tao, 2024. "Private equity market development, state ownership, and firm innovation: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 958-985.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovations; OFDI; Belt and road;
    All these keywords.

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:200:y:2024:i:c:s0040162523008211. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.