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Agglomeration, ownership, and R&D activity: firm-level evidence from China’s electronics industry

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  • Chih-Hai Yang

    (National Central University)

  • Chia-Hui Huang

    (Aletheia University)

Abstract

This paper examines the influences of spatial and research and development (R&D) agglomerations on firm R&D behaviour. Analysis of firm-level data from China’s electronics industry reveals that both spatial and R&D agglomerations are positively related to R&D, highlighting the importance of network effects of agglomeration. Multinational enterprises invest less in R&D compared with domestic firms, because they tend to allocate R&D activity to the parent firm, leaving their Chinese affiliates to focus on manufacturing. No significant difference in R&D investment is observed between state-owned enterprises and private firms in China. These findings are confirmed through various robustness checks.

Suggested Citation

  • Chih-Hai Yang & Chia-Hui Huang, 2018. "Agglomeration, ownership, and R&D activity: firm-level evidence from China’s electronics industry," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 1673-1696, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:54:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s00181-017-1292-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-017-1292-8
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    2. Ye, Jiangfeng & Wan, Qunchao & Li, Ruida & Yao, Zhu & Huang, Dujuan, 2022. "How do R&D agglomeration and economic policy uncertainty affect the innovative performance of Chinese high-tech industry?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    3. Wei Zhao & Chao Zhu & Yaoyao Zhu, 2022. "The Comparative Advantage of Cities and Innovation Value Chain: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agglomeration; Ownership; R&D; Spillover;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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