We analyze the influence of endogenous competitiveness on multinational activity. Competitiveness is endogenized by assuming that firms differ on R&D commitment power, i.e.: some firms are leaders in R&D. We show that firms with higher commitment power tend to invest more in R&D and consequently...

This paper addresses two puzzles related to industrial dynamics and competition. The first of these puzzles is that a high degree of globalization may well go hand in hand with increasing concentration. I show that one of the most globalized sectors of the electronics industry, hard disk drives...

We are concerned with trade in transport services (not cabotage butrather international shipping, transport,and related logistical services) and the importance of competitionand market structure in the sector. Weexamine implications of liberalization for profits, trade, andnational gains from...

FDI can be an important channel for developing countries' ability to get access to new technology. The impact of FDI on domestically-owned firms' technology development is less examined but it is frequently argued that technology externalities or demonstration effects could have a positive...

We consider the plant location decision of a multinational, which has the option to invest in a more or aless technologically advanced country. We find that in the absence of exporting by the local firms, themultinational will invest in the country lagging behind, unless the firms in that...

This paper theoretically and empirically explores how firms' heterogeneous characteristics, in particular their competitiveness in the product market and their productivity, affect their domestic and cross-border corporate asset transactions. I find that firms participate in the domestic and...

This paper investigates if tax planning by large multinationals distorts competition in their favour and allows them to crowd out other firms. The competitive implications of tax planning are frequently mentioned in the tax policy debate, but not yet documented empirically to our knowledge. This...

Empirical work shows that competition is important for promoting economic growth. However, in Japan the promotion of competition has long been compromised by ministerial guidance and exemptions from the competition law. Thus, the level and growth of productivity have been low in many...

Maintaining rapid economic growth depends increasingly on productivity gains, particularly in the service sector. Competition has an important role to play in achieving such gains. However, Korea’s development strategy has tended to weaken competition and has left a legacy of government...

This report explores the relationship between services trade policies and mark-ups at the firm level, taken as a measure of competitive pressure. Restrictive regulations are found to enable firms to charge higher mark-ups in a majority of services sectors, suggesting ample scope for...