Linked-in by FDI: The Role of Firm-Level Relationships for Knowledge Transfers in Africa and Asia
研究通过访谈七个国家的政府、102家跨国公司和226家本土企业，发现非洲本土企业与跨国公司的关联较少，但一旦存在关联，知识转移的可能性高于亚洲；同时，直接知识转移通过贸易和外商直接投资的可能性无显著差异。
This study combines evidence from interviews in seven countries with (i) government institutions responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), (ii) 102 multinationals (MNEs), and (iii) 226 domestic firms linked to these foreign affiliates as suppliers, customers, or competitors, to identify whether relations between MNEs and domestic firms lead to direct transfers of knowledge/technology. We first document that there are relatively few linkages between MNEs and domestic firms in sub-Saharan Africa compared with Asia. However, when linkages are present in sub-Saharan Africa they raise the likelihood of direct knowledge/technology transfers from MNEs to domestic firms as compared to linked-in firms in Asia. Finally, we do not find that direct knowledge/technology transfers are more likely to occur through FDI than through trade. As such our results are not consistent with the view that tacit knowledge transfers are more likely to occur through localised linkages.