Impact of innovation effort on exports from emerging market firms: limitations arising from complementary resource constraints
研究了创新努力对资源受限的新兴市场企业出口的影响，发现两者呈倒U型关系，互补资源（如规模和流程相关资源）的缺乏会削弱这种效应。
Purpose This paper aims to examine the impact of innovation effort on exports of resource constrained emerging market firms (EMFs) and boundary conditions imposed by complementary tangible and intangible resources on this relationship, using the lens of the knowledge-based view (KBV). Design/methodology/approach Analysis is based on annualized data from 19,057 Indian firms over the period of 2009–2017, controlling for endogeneity and selection bias (using Heckman correction), firm-level controls, year and sectoral fixed effects, within robust Tobit and ordinary least squares regressions. Export intensity and R&D intensity are the key dependent and independent variables, respectively. Findings The baseline impact of innovation effort on exports is found to be a concave inverted U-shape, exhibiting decreasing returns. Availability of complementary resources significantly impacts the nature of this relationship by weakening it for more resource-constrained firms. Faced with relatively greater scale-related constraints, the impact of innovation effort on exports disappears. Greater process-related constraints weaken the relationship as well. Originality/value Theoretically, these findings shed light on a nuanced relationship between a firm’s search for knowledge assets and access to foreign markets within resource constrained emerging market contexts. The limitations in the use and applicability of the KBV for EMFs’ internationalization success are highlighted, with suggested directions of future research.