Corporate Innovation Effects of the Global FTA Network: From Passive Embedding to Active Exploitation

Liu Hui, Qi Jianhong

The Journal of World Economy ›› 2021, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3) : 3-31.

PDF(3056 KB)
PDF(3056 KB)
The Journal of World Economy ›› 2021, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3) : 3-31.

Corporate Innovation Effects of the Global FTA Network: From Passive Embedding to Active Exploitation

  • Liu Hui1, Qi Jianhong2
Author information +
History +

Abstract

This paper uses the social network analysis method for the first time to construct an embedded position index of Chinese enterprises in the global free trade agreement (FTA) network, examining the impact of the embedded position in the FTA network on the innovation of Chinese enterprises based on matching data from Chinese customs import and export databases and the listed enterprises database between 2005 and 2016. The research finds that:(1) embedding in the global FTA network contributes to an increase in the number of enterprise patent applications (especially patents for inventions), but this effect weakens over time; (2) the innovation effect of embedding in the FTA network is particularly prominent in state-owned enterprises, high-tech enterprises and enterprises in the central and western regions; (3) export, import and national embeddings have a positive effect on the level of enterprise innovation, and the contribution of national embedding is significantly greater than that of others. At the same time, this effect is mainly reflected in the application for invention patents. (4) The mechanism of the corporate innovation effect of the FTA network is to scale up trade, strengthen competitive incentives and disseminate information technology. The embedding of exports and imports also mainly affects corporate innovation through the trade-scale mechanism, while the main channels of national embedding turn out to be market competition and information technology dissemination mechanisms. These findings provide new ideas to help Chinese enterprises move from "passive embedding" to "active exploitation" of FTA networks and to understanding the dilemma of corporate innovation.

Key words

FTA network / corporate innovation / centrality / structural holes

Cite this article

Download Citations
Liu Hui, Qi Jianhong. Corporate Innovation Effects of the Global FTA Network: From Passive Embedding to Active Exploitation[J]. The Journal of World Economy, 2021, 44(3): 3-31

References

蔡卫星、倪骁然、赵盼、杨亭亭(2019):《企业集团对创新产出的影响——来自制造业上市公司的经验证据》,《中国工业经济》第1期。
韩剑、冯帆、李妍(2018):《FTA知识产权保护与国际贸易:来自中国进出口贸易的证据》,《世界经济》第9期。
韩剑、岳文、吴小康(2019):《优惠自贸协定、原产地原则与企业技术升级》,《经济评论》第4期。
顾夏铭、陈勇民、潘士远(2018):《经济政策不确定性与创新——基于我国上市公司的实证分析》,《经济研究》第2期。
蒋殿春、张宇(2008):《经济转型与外商直接投资技术溢出效应》,《经济研究》第7期。
李双杰、李众宜、刘硕(2020):《对华反倾销如何影响中国企业创新》,《世界经济研究》第2期。
林僖、鲍晓华(2018):《区域服务贸易协定如何影响服务贸易流量?——基于增加值贸易的研究视角》,《经济研究》第1期。
鲁晓东、连玉君(2012):《中国工业企业全要素生产率估计:1999-2007》,《经济学(季刊)》第2期。
吕越、盛斌、吕云龙(2018):《中国的市场分割会导致企业出口国内附加值率下降吗》,《中国工业经济》第5期。
吕越、尉亚宁(2020):《全球价值链下的企业贸易网络和出口国内附加值》,《世界经济》第12期。
齐绍洲、林屾、崔静波(2018):《环境权益交易市场能否诱发绿色创新?——基于我国上市公司绿色专利数据的证据》,《经济研究》第12期。
钱锡红、杨永福、徐万里(2010):《企业网络位置、吸收能力与创新绩效——一个交互效应模型》,《管理世界》第5期。
盛斌、毛其淋(2017):《进口贸易自由化是否影响中国制造业出口技术复杂度》,《世界经济》第12期。
田巍、余淼杰(2014):《中间品贸易自由化和企业研发:基于中国数据的经验分析》,《世界经济》第6期。
王营、张光利(2018):《董事网络与企业创新:引资与引智》,《金融研究》第6期。
吴群锋、杨汝岱(2019):《网络与贸易:一个扩展引力模型研究框架》,《经济研究》第2期。
杨继军(2019):《增加值贸易对全球经济联动的影响》,《中国社会科学》第4期。
原磊、邹宗森(2018):《企业异质性、出口决策与就业效应——兼论中美贸易战的应对》,《经济学动态》第9期。
曾国安、马宇佳(2020):《论FDI对中国本土企业创新影响的异质性》,《国际贸易问题》第3期。
张杰、郑文平(2017):《全球价值链下中国本土企业的创新效应》,《经济研究》第3期。
张杰、郑文平(2018):《创新追赶战略抑制了中国专利质量么?》,《经济研究》第5期。
Aghion, P.; Bloom, N.B.; Richard, G.R.and Howitt, P."Competition and Innovation:An Inverted-U Relationship." The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2005,120(2), pp.701-728.
Amiti, M.and Konings, J."Trade Liberalization, Intermediate Inputs, and Productivity:Evidence from Indonesia." The American Economic Review, 2007, 97(5), pp.1611-1638.
Arrow, K."Economic Welfare and the Allocation of Resources for Invention, " in Richard Nelson, ed., The Rate and Direction of Economic Activity.Princeton:Princeton University Press,1962.
Baldwin, J.and Gu, Wulong."The Impact of Trade on Plant Scale, Production-run Length and Diversification," in Timothy Dunne; Bradford Jensen and Mark J.Roberts, eds, Producer Dynamics:New Evidence from Micro Data.Chicago, IL:University of Chicago Press, 2009,pp.557-592.
Bernard, A.B.and Jensen, J.B."Exceptional Exporter Performance:Cause, Effect, or Both?" Journal of International Economics, 1999,47(1), pp.1-25.
Bratti, M.and Felice, G."Are Exporters More Likely to Introduce Product Innovation?" The World Economy, 2012, 35(11), pp.1559-1598.
Burstein, A.and Melitz, M.J."Trade Liberalization and Firm Dynamics." NBER Working Paper 16960, 2011.
Burt, R.S."Structural Holes and Good Ideas." American Journal of Sociology, 2004,110(2), pp.349-399.
Bustos, P."Trade Liberalization, Exports, and Technology Upgrading:Evidence on the Impact of MERCOSUR on Argentinian Firms." The American Economic Review, 2011, 101(1), pp.304-340.
Chaney, T."The Network Structure of International Trade." The American Economics Review,2014,11, pp.3600-2634.
Fernandes, A.M."Trade Policy, Trade Volumes and Plant-level Productivity in Colombian Manufacturing Industries." Journal of International Economics, 2007, 71(1), pp.52-71.
Goldberg, P.K.; Khandelwal, A.K.; Pavcnik, N.and Topalova, P."Imported Intermediate Inputs and Domestic Product Growth:Evidence from India." The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2010, 125(4), pp.1727-1767.
Hashmi, A.R."Competition and Innovation:The Inverted-U Relationship Revisited."Review of Economics and Statistics, 2013, 95(5),pp.1653-1668.
Lileeva, A.and Trefler, D."Improved Access to Foreign Markets Raises Plant-level Productivity for Some Plants." The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2010, 125(3), pp.1051-1099.
Liu, Q.and Ma, H."Trade Policy Uncertainty and Innovation:Firm Level Evidence from China's WTO Accession." Journal of International Economics,2020,127,pp.1-20.
Schumpeter, J.A.Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy.New York, NY:Harper and Brothers, 1942.
Yu, M."Processing Trade, Tariff Reductions and Firm Productivity:Evidence from Chinese Firms."The Economic Journal, 2015, 125(585), pp.943-988.
Zaheer, A.and Bell, G.G."Benefiting from Network Position:Firm Capabilities, Structural Holes, and Performance."Strategic Management Journal,2005,26 (9), pp.809-825.
PDF(3056 KB)

1144

Accesses

0

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/