TheIn Situ Upgrading of Japanese Electronics Firms inMalaysian Industrial Clusters
研究了日本电子跨国公司如何在马来西亚产业集群中从简单组装转向嵌入式集群，但受限于当地技术环境和总部策略，未能进一步实现技术密集型升级。
Abstract The ability of clusters generated by direct foreign investment ( DFI ) in emerging economies to generate sustained, value‐added growth is a matter of controversy. This article assesses this debate with reference to the role of Japanese electronics multinational corporations ( MNCs ) in the development of clusters in M alaysia. Conceptually, we present a typology of DFI ‐generated industrial clusters that represent increasing degrees of commitment to local value creation and upgrading. Empirically, we conducted a survey of 10 Japanese firms in M alaysia that examined whether or not their factories increased technological upgrading, increasingly embedded their operations through using local skilled labor and supply firms, and responded positively to national policies and cluster‐governance measures supporting the electronics industry. We found that J apanese firms had clearly moved beyond simple assembly‐based to embedded clustering but had not progressed further to technology‐intensive behavior because of the poor technological environment in M alaysia, as well as J apanese MNCs ' strategies that depend on technology from headquarters. Nonetheless, J apanese MNCs were sufficiently embedded in M alaysia to upgrade production to digital consumer products, and semiconductor assembly has flourished, warding off competition from C hina and low‐cost locations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. At the end of the study period, M alaysia remained an attractive location for J apanese electronics MNCs .