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Do Overseas Subsidiaries Benefit from Parent Firms' Intangibles?

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  • HOSONO Kaoru
  • MIYAKAWA Daisuke
  • TAKIZAWA Miho

Abstract

Using data for 3,800 Japanese firms and their 20,000 overseas subsidiaries over the period 2000-2013, we estimate the subsidiary-level production function to check whether or not intangible assets accumulated by parent firms contribute to the subsidiary production. We find that, first, the intangibles (i.e., software, advertisement, and research & development capital) owned by parent firms positively contribute to subsidiary production. Second, the contribution is stronger in the case of smaller subsidiaries. Third, such positive contribution from parent firms' intangible to subsidiaries' production is confirmed for most of the subsidiary locations. These results jointly suggest that intangibles contribute to firm activities even if they are in geographically remote locations.

Suggested Citation

  • HOSONO Kaoru & MIYAKAWA Daisuke & TAKIZAWA Miho, 2017. "Do Overseas Subsidiaries Benefit from Parent Firms' Intangibles?," Discussion papers 17073, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:17073
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