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The impact of FDI spillover effects on total factor productivity in the Chinese electronic industry: a panel data analysis

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  • William Sheng Liu
  • Frank Wogbe Agbola
  • Janet Ama Dzator

Abstract

This paper empirically investigates the impact of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) on total factor productivity (TFP) growth in a developing country, China. Utilising an endogenous growth theoretic framework, we estimate a model using 1328 firm-level data and spanning the period 2003–2008. We find that the productivity gap constrains the impact of FDI on TFP, while foreign equity participation enhances technological transfer from foreign partners thus resulting in increased TFP in the Chinese electronic industry (CEI). Our findings demonstrate the need for greater investment in the human capital skill base, adopting flexible labour regulatory policies and encouraging investment in R&D as it enhances TFP in the CEI.

Suggested Citation

  • William Sheng Liu & Frank Wogbe Agbola & Janet Ama Dzator, 2016. "The impact of FDI spillover effects on total factor productivity in the Chinese electronic industry: a panel data analysis," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 217-234, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjapxx:v:21:y:2016:i:2:p:217-234
    DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2015.1137473
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    2. Niaz Morshed & Mohammad Razib Hossain, 2022. "Causality analysis of the determinants of FDI in Bangladesh: fresh evidence from VAR, VECM and Granger causality approach," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(7), pages 1-28, July.
    3. Razzaq, Asif & An, Hui & Delpachitra, Sarath, 2021. "Does technology gap increase FDI spillovers on productivity growth? Evidence from Chinese outward FDI in Belt and Road host countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    4. Claudiu Tiberiu Albulescu & Camélia Turcu, 2022. "Productivity, financial performance, and corporate governance: evidence from Romanian R&D firms," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(51), pages 5956-5975, November.
    5. Hui Wang & Huifang Liu, 2017. "An Empirical Research of FDI Spillovers and Financial Development Threshold Effects in Different Regions of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-21, June.
    6. Hoang Duong Vu & Le Van Hung, 2017. "FDI Spill-Overs, Absorptive Capacity and Domestic Firms' Technical Efficiency in Vietnamese Wearing Apparel Industry," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 65(3), pages 1075-1084.
    7. Huang, Junbing & Cai, Xiaochen & Huang, Shuo & Tian, Sen & Lei, Hongyan, 2019. "Technological factors and total factor productivity in China: Evidence based on a panel threshold model," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 271-285.
    8. Hu, Dengfeng & You, Kefei & Esiyok, Bulent, 2021. "Foreign direct investment among developing markets and its technological impact on host: Evidence from spatial analysis of Chinese investment in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    9. Zumian Xiao & Hongfeng Peng & Zheyao Pan, 2022. "Innovation, external technological environment and the total factor productivity of enterprises," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 3-29, March.
    10. Humaira Raffat & Danish Ahmed Siddiqui, 2020. "Does Openness, and Productivity Matters for FDI: A Global Interactive Analysis Based on the Complementary Role of Institutions," Issues in Economics and Business, Macrothink Institute, vol. 6(2), pages 1-21, December.
    11. Duong, Vu Hoang, 2020. "The threshold of absorptive capacity: The case of Vietnamese manufacturing firms," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 44-57.

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