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Technology Adoption and the Investment Climate: Firm-Level Evidence for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

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  • Paulo G. Correa
  • Ana M. Fernandes
  • Chris J. Uregian

Abstract

Survey data for 7,000 firms in 28 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are used to examine the correlates of technology adoption proxied by ISO certification and web use. Complementary inputs such as skilled labor, managerial capacity, research and development, finance, and good infrastructure are shown to be important correlates of technology adoption. The link between market incentives and technology adoption is more nuanced. While stronger consumer pressure is significantly associated with technology adoption, competitor pressure is not, suggesting that in developing economies where many input markets are imperfect, it is primarily firms with rents that are able to adopt new technology. Foreign-owned firms exhibit significantly better technology adoption outcomes, but privatized firms with domestic owners do not. Copyright The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / the world bank . All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.

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  • Paulo G. Correa & Ana M. Fernandes & Chris J. Uregian, 2010. "Technology Adoption and the Investment Climate: Firm-Level Evidence for Eastern Europe and Central Asia," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 24(1), pages 121-147, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:24:y:2010:i:1:p:121-147
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    10. Görg, Holger & Fritsch, Ursula, 2013. "Outsourcing, Offshoring and Innovation: Evidence from Firm-level Data for Emerging Economies," CEPR Discussion Papers 9603, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    11. Anderson John E. & Toshmatova Muazzam, 2024. "Infrastructure System Obstacles and Technology Adoption by Firms in Transition Countries," Comparative Southeast European Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 72(1), pages 104-134, March.
    12. Abderazak Bakhouche, 2022. "Assessing the Innovation-finance Nexus for SMEs: Evidence from the Arab Region (MENA)," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 1875-1895, September.
    13. Martínez-Román, Juan A. & Gamero, Javier & Tamayo, Juan A. & Delgado-González, Loreto, 2020. "Empirical analysis of organizational archetypes based on generation and adoption of knowledge and technologies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 96.
    14. Klaus S. Friesenbichler, 2014. "EU Accession, Domestic Market Competition and Total Factor Productivity. Firm Level Evidence," WIFO Working Papers 492, WIFO.
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    23. Foster-McGregor, Neil & Kaulich, Florian & Stehrer, Robert, 2015. "Global Value Chains in Africa," MERIT Working Papers 2015-024, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

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