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Geography and Firm Performance in the Japanese Production Network

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  • Andrew B. BERNARD
  • Andreas MOXNES
  • SAITO Yukiko

Abstract

Firms operate in complex supplier-customer networks that potentially range over long distances. However, the effects of supplier networks and supplier location on firm performance are largely unknown. This paper characterizes the domestic production network in Japan using detailed buyer-supplier data on over 950,000 firms. Beyond describing the characteristics of the Japanese production network, the paper examines the geographic features of the network links. Greater geographic distance plays an important role in reducing the probability of buyer-seller relations between pairs of firms. For a given firm, greater distance is associated with better performance measures of suppliers and customers. Geography, the density, and the quality of network connections are strongly correlated with downstream (customer) firm performance. Labor productivity, credit score, and size of a downstream firm are positively correlated with features of its upstream supply base including the number of suppliers and their average performance. In addition, geographic proximity of a firm's suppliers is associated with improved firm performance. The paper also provides the first evidence on the relationship between supplier network connections and downstream firm outcomes. Firm performance is better when its suppliers have more suppliers of their own. However, firm performance is lower when its suppliers are connected to more downstream customers.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew B. BERNARD & Andreas MOXNES & SAITO Yukiko, 2014. "Geography and Firm Performance in the Japanese Production Network," Discussion papers 14034, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:14034
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    Cited by:

    1. Vasco M. Carvalho, 2014. "From Micro to Macro via Production Networks," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 28(4), pages 23-48, Fall.
    2. Vasco M Carvalho & Makoto Nirei & Yukiko U Saito & Alireza Tahbaz-Salehi, 2021. "Supply Chain Disruptions: Evidence from the Great East Japan Earthquake," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 136(2), pages 1255-1321.
    3. Yahong Liu & Daisheng Tang & Tao Bu & Xinyuan Wang, 2022. "The spatial employment effect of high-speed railway: quasi-natural experimental evidence from China," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(2), pages 333-359, October.
    4. Fujii, Daisuke & Ono, Yukako & Saito, Yukiko Umeno, 2017. "Indirect exports and wholesalers: Evidence from interfirm transaction network data," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 35-47.
    5. Spray, J., 2017. "Reorganise, Replace or Expand? The role of the supply-chain in first-time exporting," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1741, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    6. Áureo de Paula, 2015. "Econometrics of network models," CeMMAP working papers 52/15, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    7. Lin, Yatang, 2017. "Travel costs and urban specialization patterns: Evidence from China’s high speed railway system," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 98-123.
    8. Wrona, Jens, 2015. "Border Effects without Borders," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113060, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. FUJII Daisuke, 2016. "Shock Propagations in Granular Networks," Discussion papers 16057, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    10. Emmanuel Dhyne & Stela Rubínová, 2016. "The supplier network of exporters : Connecting the dots," Working Paper Research 296, National Bank of Belgium.
    11. FURUSAWA Taiji & ITO Keiko & INUI Tomohiko & Heiwai TANG, 2015. "Offshoring, Relationship-Specificity, and Domestic Production Networks," Discussion papers 15122, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    12. Todo, Yasuyuki & Matous, Petr & Inoue, Hiroyasu, 2016. "The strength of long ties and the weakness of strong ties: Knowledge diffusion through supply chain networks," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 1890-1906.
    13. Vasco M. Carvalho, 2014. "From Micro to Macro via Production Networks," Working Papers 793, Barcelona School of Economics.
    14. HAYAKAWA Kazunobu & MATSUURA Toshiyuki, 2017. "Overseas Production Expansion and Domestic Transaction Networks," Discussion papers 17085, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    15. ARATA Yoshiyuki & MIYAKAWA Daisuke, 2022. "Demand Shock Propagation Through an Input-output Network in Japan," Discussion papers 22027, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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