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How Much do Technological Gap, Firm Size, and Regional Characteristics Matter for the Absorptive Capacity of Italian Enterprises?

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  • C. Imbriani
  • R. Pittiglio
  • F. Reganati
  • E. Sica

Abstract

The absorptive capacity—the ability of enterprises to efficiently absorb and internalise knowledge from outside sources—represents the link between firms’ capabilities to implement new products and the external stock of technological opportunities, such as those gleamed from Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). This paper explores whether the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the productivity of Italian domestically-owned firms (DOFs) is dependent on their absorptive capacity. In particular, given the peculiar characteristics of the Italian productive system, our analysis focuses on three different dimensions of the absorptive capacity: the size of the technological gap between foreign-owned firms (FOFs) and DOFs, firm size, and the regional distribution of firms. Our findings suggest that technological gap and firm size matter considerably for the spillover effect. Moreover, spillovers exhibit a sub-national dimension present only in the northeastern region of the peninsula. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2014

Suggested Citation

  • C. Imbriani & R. Pittiglio & F. Reganati & E. Sica, 2014. "How Much do Technological Gap, Firm Size, and Regional Characteristics Matter for the Absorptive Capacity of Italian Enterprises?," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 20(1), pages 57-72, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:iaecre:v:20:y:2014:i:1:p:57-72:10.1007/s11294-013-9439-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11294-013-9439-7
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    Cited by:

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    2. Dao T. H. Nguyen & Ari Kokko & Thong T. Nguyen, 2024. "Multinational enterprises and local firms’ export market entry: A panel data analysis of Vietnam's food processing industry," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(4), pages 975-1001, October.
    3. Rosanna Pittiglio & Filippo Reganati, 2016. "Vertical Spillovers from Multinational Enterprises: Does Technological Gap Matter?," Panoeconomicus, Savez ekonomista Vojvodine, Novi Sad, Serbia, vol. 63(3), pages 313-323, June.
    4. Graziella Bonanno, 2016. "ICT and R&D as inputs or efficiency determinants? Analysing Italian manufacturing firms (2007–2009)," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 6(3), pages 383-404, December.
    5. Rosanna Pittiglio & Filippo Reganati, 2015. "Multinational Enterprises, Technological Intensity and Firm Survival. Evidence from Italian Manufacturing and Services Firms," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 43(1), pages 87-106, March.
    6. Pham Thi Bich Ngoc & Pham Dinh Long & Huynh Quoc Vu, 2022. "The impact of absorbing productivity spillover on export ability: evidence from an emerging market," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 2152938-215, December.
    7. Ronald B. Davies & Arman Mazhikeyev, 2021. "The glass border: Gender and exporting in developing countries," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(4), pages 879-903, April.
    8. Bibhuti Sarker, 2023. "Foreign firms in the industry frontier and productivity convergence: Importance of proximity and firm attributes," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(2), pages 906-925, March.
    9. Michele Imbruno & Rosanna Pittiglio & Filippo Reganati, 2015. "FDI, Intermediate Inputs and Firm Performance: Theory and Evidence from Italy," Discussion Papers 2015-15, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    10. Rosanna Pittiglio & Filippo Reganati & Edgardo Sica, 2015. "Do Multinational Enterprises Push up the Wages of Domestic Firms in the Italian Manufacturing Sector?," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 83(3), pages 346-378, June.
    11. Michele Imbruno, & Rosanna Pittiglio, & Filippo Reganati,, 2024. "How do foreign-owned suppliers affect economic performance? Evidence from Italian manufacturing firms," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    12. Yoshimichi Murakami & Keijiro Otsuka, 2017. "A Review of the Literature on Productivity Impacts of Global Value Chains and Foreign Direct Investment: Towards an Integrated Approach," Discussion Paper Series DP2017-19, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, revised Aug 2019.
    13. Veasna Kheng & Sizhong Sun & Sajid Anwar, 2017. "Foreign direct investment and human capital in developing countries: a panel data approach," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 341-365, November.
    14. Anzolin, Guendalina & Andreoni, Antonio & Zanfei, Antonello, 2022. "What is driving robotisation in the automotive value chain? Empirical evidence on the role of FDIs and domestic capabilities in technology adoption," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    15. Sarker, Bibhuti & Serieux, John, 2022. "Foreign-invested and domestic firm attributes and spillover effects: Evidence from Brazil," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
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    17. Lejárraga,Iza & Ragoussis,Alexandros, 2018. "Beyond Capital : Monitoring Development Outcomes of Multinational Enterprises," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8686, The World Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Absorptive capacity; MNEs; FDI spillovers; Technology gap; Firm size; F20; J30;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F20 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - General
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General

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