Title: What matters for industrial innovation in China: R&D, technology transfer or spillover impacts from foreign investment?

Authors: Yifei Sun

Addresses: Department of Geography, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-8249, USA

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between industrial output and in-house R&D, technology transfer and spillovers from foreign investment in China using the most recent economic census data (2004) published by the Chinese State Statistical Bureau in 2006. It reveals that none of the three factors – in-house R&D, technology transfer and spillovers from foreign investment – can effectively explain the sectoral differences of output. The study also reveals that capital and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) show consistent and significant impacts on output, where capital demonstrates positive impacts while SOEs show negative impacts. Also interesting is that the impact of export on industrial differences of output is insignificant, though still positive. Such results cast serious doubts on the sustainability of China|s strategy of relying on foreign investment, export and its recent innovation drive.

Keywords: FDI; foreign direct investment; in-house R&D; research and development; technology transfer; spillovers; exports; SOEs; state-owned enterprises; systems perspectives; innovation; industrial output; sectoral differences; capital; positive impacts; negative impacts; business; systems research; China; strategic management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2010.035078

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2010 Vol.4 No.5/6, pp.621 - 647

Published online: 02 Sep 2010 *

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