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The performance of foreign affiliates in German manufacturing: evidence from a new database

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  • John Weche Gelübcke

Abstract

This study presents the first investigation into the performance of foreign-controlled enterprises in German manufacturing, based on new micro-data from official statistics. A comprehensive set of performance variables is examined, not only by comparing unconditional mean values but also by accounting for other determinants and differences across distributions. The analysis reveals a foreign ownership performance premium with regard to productivity, research and development, export intensities, and average wages. Only profitability seems not to differ from German-owned enterprises. Results are verified by varying comparison groups of indigenous firms and separating for high- and low-tech sectors. Furthermore, a breakdown by country of origin and type of group head shows considerable heterogeneity within the group of foreign-controlled affiliates in Germany. Copyright Kiel Institute 2013

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  • John Weche Gelübcke, 2013. "The performance of foreign affiliates in German manufacturing: evidence from a new database," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 149(1), pages 151-182, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:149:y:2013:i:1:p:151-182
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-012-0142-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Driffield Nigel & Temouri Yama, 2014. "Inward Investment and the Drivers of Post Recession Recovery in Germany," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 234(6), pages 775-799, December.
    2. John P. Weche Geluebcke, 2012. "Foreign and Domestic Takeovers in Germany: First Comparative Evidence on the Post-acquisition Target Performance using new Data," Working Paper Series in Economics 249, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    3. Francesco Aiello & Fernanda Ricotta, 2014. "Firm heterogeneity in productivity across Europe. What explains what?," ERSA conference papers ersa14p808, European Regional Science Association.
    4. Alexandra Horobet & Lucian Belascu & Ștefania Cristina Curea & Alma Pentescu, 2019. "Ownership Concentration and Performance Recovery Patterns in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-31, February.
    5. Joachim Wagner, 2013. "Micro-econometric studies of international firm activities and firm performance: introduction by guest editor," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 149(1), pages 1-3, March.
    6. Horst Raff & Joachim Wagner, 2014. "Foreign Ownership and the Extensive Margins of Exports: Evidence for Manufacturing Enterprises in Germany," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 579-591, May.
    7. Francesco Aiello & Fernanda Ricotta, 2016. "Firm heterogeneity in productivity across Europe: evidence from multilevel models," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 57-89, January.
    8. Joachim Wagner & John Philipp Weche Gelübcke, 2012. "Foreign Ownership and Firm Survival: First Evidence for Enterprises in Germany," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 132, pages 117-139.
    9. Joachim Wagner & John P. Weche Gelübcke, 2016. "Risk or Resilience? The Role of Trade Integration and Foreign Ownership for the Survival of German Enterprises during the Crisis 2008–2010," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Microeconometrics of International Trade, chapter 11, pages 369-397, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    10. Fernanda Ricotta, 2019. "The Quality of Regional Government and Firm Performance," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(2), pages 27-40, February.
    11. Joachim Wagner & John P. Weche Geluebcke, 2013. "Credit Constraints, Foreign Ownership, and Foreign Takeovers in Germany," Working Paper Series in Economics 283, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    12. Fornaro, Paolo & Luomaranta, Henri, 2017. "Small and Medium Firms, Aggregate Productivity and the Role of Dependencies," ETLA Working Papers 47, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    13. Fernanda Ricotta, 2016. "Productivity Differences By Export Destination," Working Papers 201601, Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Economia, Statistica e Finanza "Giovanni Anania" - DESF.
    14. David, Martín-Barroso & Juan Andres, Nuñez & Francisco J., Velazquez, 2013. "The efect on firms' Productivity of accessibility. The Spanish manufacturung sector," MPRA Paper 45842, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Magdalena Śliwińska & Rafał Śliwiński, 2017. "International Development of German Enterprises on the example of the Wielkopolska Region," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 5(2), pages 211-226.
    16. Bykova, Anna & Jardon, Carlos M., 2017. "Lean against the wind: The moderation effect of foreign investments during the economic recession in Russia," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 1-14.
    17. POPOVICI Oana Cristina & HOROBEȚ Alexandra, 2018. "Performance Dissimilarities in the Activity of Foreign and Romanian-Owned Companies: What Lessons to be Learned?," European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Bucharest Economic Academy, issue 01, March.
    18. Radovan Kastratović, 2023. "Exporting decision of agricultural firms: The role of foreign direct investment," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(4), pages 960-984, October.
    19. Chiara Franco & John P. Weche Gelübcke, 2015. "The Death of German Firms: What Role for Foreign Direct Investment?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 677-703, April.
    20. Joachim Wagner & John P. Weche Gelübcke, 2015. "Access to finance, foreign ownership and foreign takeovers in Germany," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(29), pages 3092-3112, June.
    21. Radovan Kastratović, 2020. "The impact of foreign direct investment on host country exports: A meta‐analysis," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(12), pages 3142-3183, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Foreign ownership; Firm performance; Inward FDI; Multinational enterprise; F21; F23;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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