Nagesh Kumar

Technology, firm size and export behaviour in developing countries: The case of Indian enterprises

This article analyses the interfirm variation in export behaviour of Indian enterprises in 13 manufacturing industries using Tobit models. The main contention of the analysis, which is supported by the empirical findings, is that the technology factor could be important for explaining export behaviour of developing country enterprises in medium and low technology industries. The firm size ‐ export performance relationship is found to be predominantly inverted U‐shaped. A higher level of automation is an advantage only in high technology industries. In countries with large home markets government negotiations with MNEs regarding export obligations could be an effective means of expanding manufactured exports.

Intellectual Property Protection, Market Orientation and Location of Overseas R&D Activities by Multinational Enterprises

This paper develops an analytical framework to explain the determinants of location of overseas R&D by MNEs in terms of the nature and extent of FDI and host country resources and policy regimes. Empirical findings for U.S. MNEs suggest that MNEs prefer to locate their R&D activities in countries that are able to offer them, among other particulars, larger markets, technological resources and infrastructure. Host market-oriented affiliates are more likely to have R&D units than the export-oriented ones, especially in developing countries. The relative strength of patent regime appears to affect the direction rather than the magnitude of R&D investments made in a country.

Technology Generation and Technology Transfers in the World Economy: Recent Trends and Implications for Developing Countries:

This paper puts together new data on technology generation and technology transfers in the world economy during the 1975-95 period to examine the emerging trends and pat terns. In panicular it examines the trends in the context of the developing countries and corporate concentration in technology generation in terms of indicators of R&D activity, patent ownership and receipts of technology fees and royalties against the background of emergence of new core technologies and the recent trend of corporate restructuring. It then examines trends and patterns in international technology transfers as represented by ray alty and technology receipts by major source countries of technology and contrasts these trends with those in FDI inflows. Trends with respect to the mode of technology transfer are also discussed. In conclusion, a few observations for technology import policies of developing countries are made.