ISER Internal Seminar: Foreign Direct Investment and Knowledge Diffusion in Poor Locations: Evidence from EthiopiaISER Internal Seminars

Sandwiches from 12:15, Seminar at 12:30

We quantify foreign direct investment (FDI) spillovers by comparing changes in total factor productivity (TFP) among domestic plants in districts where a large greenfield foreign plant produced and districts where FDI was licensed but not yet operational. Over the four years starting with the year of the opening, TFP of domestic plants is 8 percent higher in treated districts. Using an alternative strategy exploiting the assignment of land for FDI by the Ethiopian Government, we obtain similar results. Exposure to FDI enhances domestic plants’: (i) production processes; (ii) managerial and organizational practices; and (iii) knowledge about exporting. In terms of mechanisms, we find suggestive evidence of an important role of labor mobility from foreign to domestic plants and of communication externalities.

Presented by:

Michel Serafinelli (Department of Economics)

Date & time:

May 15, 2019 11:30 am - May 15, 2019 12:30 pm

Venue:

2N2.4.16 - ISER Large Seminar Room


Internal seminars home

News

Latest findings, new research

Publications search

Search all research by subject and author

Podcasts

Researchers discuss their findings and what they mean for society

Projects

Background and context, methods and data, aims and outputs

Events

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Survey methodology

Specialist research, practice and study

Taking the long view

ISER's annual report

Themes

Key research themes and areas of interest