Foreign Entry and Profitability of Domestic Firms: Evidence from China

Profitability provides a yardstick for judging the operational efficiency, growth, and survival of a business enterprise. This study investigates the determinants of firm profitability in the Chinese manufacturing sector, with a focus on the impact of foreign entry on the profitability of domestic firms. Our findings show an inverted-U relationship between foreign entry and the profitability of domestic firms. Furthermore, we also find that the effect of foreign entry on domestic firm profitability varies according to the ownership structure of domestic firms and the export intensity of foreign newcomers. © 2013 The Earth Institute at Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.