Policies to Encourage Inflows of Technology Through Foreign Multinationals

31 Pages Posted: 25 Jun 2004 Last revised: 22 Sep 2022

See all articles by Magnus Blomstrom

Magnus Blomstrom

Stockholm School of Economics - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), at New York; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Ari Kokko

Stockholm School of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: March 1993

Abstract

Do host countries aiming to maximize the inflows of technology through foreign multinationals have any policy alternatives to formal technology transfer requirements and performance requirements? To answer this question, the present paper examines some possible determinants of the technology imports of U.S. majority-owned foreign affiliates in 33 host countries. The results show that the affiliates' technology imports increase with the host countries' domestic investment levels and education levels, but that various performance requirements are negatively related to technology transfer. This suggests that policies promoting local investment, competition, and education may sometimes be alternatives to direct controls and requirements.

Suggested Citation

Blomstrom, Magnus and Kokko, Ari, Policies to Encourage Inflows of Technology Through Foreign Multinationals (March 1993). NBER Working Paper No. w4289, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=257827

Magnus Blomstrom (Contact Author)

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Ari Kokko

Stockholm School of Economics ( email )

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