A study of interactive innovation spillover of "bringing in" and "going out"

Li Boxin, Han Xianfeng, Li Hui

Science Research Management ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8) : 122-130.

PDF(345 KB)
PDF(345 KB)
Science Research Management ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8) : 122-130.

A study of interactive innovation spillover of "bringing in" and "going out"

  • Li Boxin1, Han Xianfeng2, Li Hui3
Author information +
History +

Abstract

   Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the strategies of "Bringing in" and "Going out" have made remarkable achievements, which attract the investments of whole global capital flowing into China with enthusiasm. According to statistics, in 2016, the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into China exceeded 130 billion US dollars, with a record high scale. While Chinese enterprises have obviously accelerated their outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) simultaneously, and the scale of OFDI in 2016 is near 200 billion US dollars, with significant increase. The central economic work conference put forward that, the construction of "the Belt and Road" should be emphasized, and "Bringing in" and "Going out" are dual important, the strategies are beneficial to promote innovation through investment cooperation. The questions are, what kind of innovation spillover influence does "Bringing in" and "Going out" display in China new era? How is the relationship in the process of coexistence and development of FDI and OFDI, are they competition with suppression or mutual integration with promotion? And how to speed up the innovative country construction in China new era with the profits of innovation spillover during capital dual flow? These questions have important research value and practical significance.
    The existing literatures on innovation spillovers of capital flows are mostly confined to a single FDI perspective or a single OFDI perspective, ignore the symbiotic evolution characteristics of "Bringing in" and "Going out". In China′s new era, the opening of the financial market will be speeded up, and the construction of "the Belt and Road" will be promoted, it is significant to welcome "Bringing in", while "Going out" becomes enthusiastic and optimistic, which reveals dual capital flow characteristics of FDI and OFDI. Under this evolutionary trend, the impact of "Bringing in" and "Going out" on technology innovation may have iterative effects: on the one hand, because of economic development and industrial upgrading, simple manufacturing industries may lose the driving force of technology innovation, it is necessary to raise the technical threshold of foreign direct investment, leverage the Chinese enterprises innovation foundation of "Going out" by FDI technology spillover. On the other hand, Chinese enterprises have absorbed foreign R&D experience during "Going out", introduced advanced technology and enhanced innovation capability, which would force foreign enterprises to improve the technological competition level during the investment into China market, it could boost FDI innovation spillover through OFDI reversely. 
    In views of the above analysis, the paper broke through the limitation of single analysis perspective, studied the innovation spillover effects of China′s capital flows from the perspective of dual symbiosis of "Bringing in" and "Going out" systematically. Firstly, it tested and judged the single dynamic innovation spillover effects of FDI or OFDI in China; secondly, considering the possible interactive affection between FDI and OFDI, it studied the innovation spillover effects of FDI under the constraints of OFDI, as well as, it discussed the OFDI innovation spillover effect under the influence of FDI. Thirdly, it studied the spatial heterogeneity of the interactive innovation spillover effect of dual capital flow according to the economic geography differences of the eastern, central and Western regions in China.
    The results showed that, FDI has a dynamic restraining effect on regional innovation, while OFDI′s innovation spillover shows the characteristics of "U" shape triple threshold, which promotes regional innovation in prominent level. Meanwhile, there is a significant interactive innovation spillover effect between "Bringing in" and "Going out", high-intensity OFDI could reverse the inhibition of FDI innovation spillover, while specific-intensity FDI could maximize OFDI innovation spillover. Further research also finds that, there is significant spatial heterogeneity in the interactive innovation spillover effect of dual capital flow in China, high-intensity OFDI is beneficial to reverse the inhibition of FDI innovation spillover in eastern regions, but it does not happen in other regions, FDI in eastern regions could positively regulate the innovation spillover effect of OFDI, while excessive high-intensity FDI weakens or even inhibits OFDI innovation spillover in central regions and western regions.
    The main policy implications of the paper are as follows, in the symbiotic interactive stage of dual capital flow, the relationship between "Bringing in" and "Going out" is not simple equal, they should be adjusted hierarchically and scientifically, and stimulate the innovation spillover effect of dual capital flow systematically. (1) There is obvious technology inhibition during foreign enterprises investing in China currently, and it is invalid for low technology FDI to stimulate innovation spillover at present, therefore local governments should not absorb FDI only for simple achievements but ignore the technology threshold, they should emphasize on upgrading technical threshold of "Bringing in", promote regional innovation by introducing technological models. (2) Low level outward investment is invalid to stimulate OFDI innovation spillover profits, and primary external expansion will inhibit the enthusiasm of domestic technology innovation, with the inspiration of "the Belt and Road" construction, Chinese enterprises should take the initiative of "Going out" to seek the external technological potential progress in developed countries and regions, and siphon to enhance domestic innovation capability. (3) Capital dual flow has complex interactive innovation spillover effects, consequently, "Bringing in" should not abandoned unilaterally, or only emphasize on "Going out", the regional governments should upgrade the technical threshold of foreign enterprises investment with the competition of technical progress during OFDI, which could stimulate positive innovation spillover of FDI. Meanwhile, foreign enterprises investment strategies should be adjusted and optimized dynamically, which is to maximize OFDI innovation spillover by FDI regulation. (4) The spatial heterogeneity of interactive innovation spillover effects of capital dual flow should not be ignored. The eastern regions have better innovation foundation and human resources, FDI and OFDI are both conducive to enhancing regional innovation capability in high intensity, "Bringing in" and "Going out" should be encouraged equally. The innovation activities in central regions are sensitive to the interactive innovation spillover effects of "Bringing in" and "Going out", they should implement dual adjustment of FDI and OFDI, and avoid falling into innovation inhibition of capital flow. The industrial foundation and innovation capability in the western regions are relatively low, and the innovation spillover contribution of "Bringing in" is insufficient, but it could release the technology spillover of "Going out", which is beneficial to feed back its domestic innovation capability.

Key words

FDI / OFDI / innovation efficiency / threshold effect

Cite this article

Download Citations
Li Boxin, Han Xianfeng, Li Hui. A study of interactive innovation spillover of "bringing in" and "going out"[J]. Science Research Management. 2021, 42(8): 122-130

References

[1] Helpman E.Trade,FDI,and the organization of firms[J].Journal of Economic Literature,2006,44(3):589-630.

[2] Perri A,Peruffo E.Knowledge spillovers from FDI:A critical review from the international business perspective[J].International Journal of Management Reviews,2016,18(1):3–27.

[3]白俊红,吕晓红.FDI质量与中国经济发展方式转变[J].金融研究,20175):47-62

Bai Junhong,Lv Xiaohong.The quality of FDI and the transformation of China's economic development mode[J].Journal of Financial Research,2017(5):47-62.

[4]谢子远,张浩飞,王佳,吴瑛,王敏杰,张海波.中国高技术产业研发投入为何偏低:FDI的视角[J].科研管理,2017,38(11):1-9.

Xie Ziyuan,Zhang Haofei,Wang Jia,Wu Hao,Wang Minjie,Zhang Haibo.Why is China's high-tech industry R&D investment low:in FDI perspective[J].Science Research Management,2017,38(11):1-9.

[5]何兴强,欧燕,史卫,刘阳.FDI技术溢出与中国吸收能力门槛研究[J].世界经济,2014,(10):52-76.

  He Xingqiang,Ou Yan,Shi Wei,Liu YangResearch on FDI technology spillover and China absorptive capability[J].The Journal of World Economy,2014,(10):52-76.

[6]Bitzer J.,Kerekes M.Does foreign direct investment transfer technology across borders? New evidence[J].Economics Letters,2008,18(3):452-465.

[7] Hayakawa K,Matsuura T,Motohashi K,et al.Two-dimensional analysis of the impact of outward FDI on performance at home:Evidence from Japanese manufacturing firms[J].Japan & the World Economy,2013,27(4):25-33.

[8] Lee H,Kim H,Sim S.The impact of outward FDI on the South Korean labor market: Evidence on the wages of four types of workers[J].East Asian Economic Review,2017,18(1):29-54.

[9]白洁.对外直接投资的逆向技术溢出效应:对中国全要素生产率影响的经验检验[J].世界经济研究,2009,(8):65-69+89.

  Bai Jie.Reverse technology spillover effect of foreign direct investment:An empirical test of the impact of China TFP[J].World Economy Studies,2009,(8):65-69+89.

[10]杜龙,林润辉.对外直接投资、逆向技术溢出与省域创新能力——基于中国省际面板数据的门槛回归分析[J].中国软科学,20181):149-162

  Du Longzheng,Lin RunhuiForeign direct investment, reverse technology spillovers and provincial innovation capability——A threshold regression analysis based on Chinese provincial panel data[J]China Soft Science20181):149-162

[11]李洪亚,宫汝凯.技术进步与中国OFDI:促进与溢出的双重考察[J].科学学研究,2016341):57-68

  Li Hongya,Gong YikaiTechnological progress and China's OFDI:double inspection of promotion and spillover[J]Studies in Science of Science2016341):57-68

[12]邵玉君.FDIOFDI与国内技术进步[J].数量经济技术经济研究,2017349):21-38

  Shao YujunFDIOFDI and domestic technological progress[J]The Journal of Quantitative & Technical Economics2017349):21-38

[13]李磊,冼国明,包群.“引进来”是否促进了“走出去”——外商投资对中国企业对外直接投资的影响[J].经济研究,2018533):142-156

  Li Lei,Yan Guoming,Bao QunDoes "Bring in" promote "Going out"? The impact of FDI on Chinese enterprises OFDI[J]Economic Review2018533):142-156

[14]李梅,柳士昌.对外直接投资逆向技术溢出的地区差异和门槛效应:基于中国省际面板数据的门槛回归分析[J].管理世界,2012,(1):21-32+ 66.

  Li Mei,Liu ShichangRegional differences and threshold effects of FDI reverse technology spillover:Threshold regression analysis based on Chinese provincial panel data[J].Management World,2012,(1):21-32+ 66.

[15] Bruce E,Hansen.Threshold effects in non-dynamic panels:Estimation,testing,and inference[J].Journal of Econometrics,1999,93(2):345-368.

 [16]刘焕鹏,严太华.OFDI与国内创新能力关系中的“门限效应”:区域金融发展视角的实证分析[J].科研管理,2015,36(1):1-7.

  Liu Huanpeng,Yan Taihua.The "threshold effect" in the relationship between OFDI and domestic innovation capability:An empirical analysis from the perspective of regional financial development[J].Science Research Management,2015,36(1):1-7.

[17] Pedroni P.Critical values for cointegration tests in heterogeneous panels with multiple regressors[J].Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics,1999,61(S1):653-670.

PDF(345 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/