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Exports and innovation: the role of heterogeneity in exports

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  • Chih-Hai Yang

    (National Central University)

Abstract

This paper examines whether and how heterogeneity in exports affects firms’ innovations in China. Using comprehensive transaction-level trade data from China Customs to construct various dimensional measures exports, empirical results obtained from a matched firm-transaction panel data find that exports overall have a positive impact on promoting innovations in terms of R&D and new product sales. The innovation-enhancing effect of exports depends on the heterogeneity in exports. Firms with greater varieties of exports, more market diversification, and higher export quality are associated with a higher R&D propensity and more new product sales, while process exports are found a negative association with innovations.

Suggested Citation

  • Chih-Hai Yang, 2018. "Exports and innovation: the role of heterogeneity in exports," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 1065-1087, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:55:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s00181-017-1312-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-017-1312-8
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    3. Yang, Chih-Hai & Matsuura, Toshiyuki & Ito, Tadashi, 2019. "R&D and patenting activities of foreign firms in China: The case of Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 151-160.
    4. Silva, Thiago Christiano & Valença, Paulo Ricardo Mendes & Tabak, Benjamin Miranda, 2024. "Economic performance of exporting sectors: Evidence for manufacturing in Brazil," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(2).
    5. Cristian Barra & Nazzareno Ruggiero, 2022. "On the impact of knowledge and institutional spillovers on RIS efficiency. Evidence from Italian regional level," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(2), pages 702-752, June.
    6. Yang, Chih-Hai & Lee, Wen-Chieh, 2021. "Establishing science parks everywhere? Misallocation in R&D and its determinants of science parks in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Dung Nguyen‐Van & Chia‐Hua Chang, 2021. "Internationalization and product innovation in ASEAN: The moderating role of organizational innovation," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(2), pages 437-462, March.
    8. Cristian Barra & Nazzareno Ruggiero, 2022. "How do dimensions of institutional quality improve Italian regional innovation system efficiency? The Knowledge production function using SFA," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 591-642, April.
    9. Bingqiang Li & Shan Wang & Nannan Dong & Jinzhi Li & Xi Li & He Yu, 2023. "Empirical Analysis of Subsidy Industrial Policy’s Effect on Export Innovation in the Chinese Manufacturing," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Export heterogeneity; Innovation; R&D; Process exports;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F19 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Other
    • F61 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Microeconomic Impacts
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • 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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