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Dynamic effects of learning on the innovative outputs and productivity in Spanish multinational enterprises

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Abstract

Empirical studies have consistently illustrated the existence of a relationship between the level of productivity and the international commitment of firms. Few studies have considered the effects of learning by foreign direct investment (FDI). We use a sample of Spanish manufacturing firms to analyze the effect that the multinational enterprise status of a firm has on its ex-post innovative performance and productivity. Our findings reveal dynamic positive effects of FDI on the technological performance of firms, with increments in patents and product innovation taking place before subsequent increments in productivity occur.

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  1. https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups.

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Acknowledgements

Francisco J. Santos-Arteaga and Celia Torrecillas acknowledge the support provided by the Research Project Ref. ECO2010-16609 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The authors would like to thank Isabel Alvarez Gonzalez for her valuable contribution to the initial research giving place to the current manuscript. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their insightful comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Management, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Francisco J. Santos-Arteaga

  2. Departamento de Economía y Finanzas, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Celia Torrecillas

  3. Instituto Complutense de Estudios Internacionales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Celia Torrecillas

  4. Business Systems and Analytics Department, Distinguished Chair of Business Analytics, La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA, 19141, USA

    Madjid Tavana

  5. Business Information Systems Department, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, University of Paderborn, 33098, Paderborn, Germany

    Madjid Tavana

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  1. Francisco J. Santos-Arteaga
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Appendix: Learning by FDI analysis

Appendix: Learning by FDI analysis

See Tables 13, 14 and 15.

Table 13 Technological classification according to the ESEE data
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Table 14 Correlations matrix: MNE status and control variables
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Table 15 Correlation matrix: lagged structure and dependent variables
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Santos-Arteaga, F.J., Torrecillas, C. & Tavana, M. Dynamic effects of learning on the innovative outputs and productivity in Spanish multinational enterprises. J Technol Transf 44, 97–131 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-017-9597-5

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