Working Paper: NBER ID: w13959
Authors: Gustavo Crespi; Chiara Criscuolo; Jonathan E. Haskel; Matthew Slaughter
Abstract: This paper explores the role of knowledge flows and productivity growth by linking direct survey data on knowledge flows to firm-level data on TFP growth. Our data measure the information flows often considered important, especially by policy-makers, such as from within the firm and from suppliers, customers, and competitors. We examine (a) what are the empirically important sources of knowledge flows? (b) to what extent do such flows contribute to TFP growth? (c) do such flows constitute a spillover of free knowledge? (d) how do such flows correspond to suggested spillover sources, such as multinational or R&D presence? We find that: (a) the main sources of knowledge are competitors; suppliers; and plants that belong to the same business group ; (b) these three flows together account for about 50% of TFP growth; (c) the main "free" information flow spillover is from competitors; and (d) multinational presence contributes to this spillover.
Keywords: productivity growth; knowledge flows; spillovers
JEL Codes: F23; O47; O57
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Knowledge flows from competitors (O36) | TFP growth (O49) |
| Knowledge flows from suppliers (O36) | TFP growth (O49) |
| Knowledge flows from intra-group firms (O36) | TFP growth (O49) |
| Presence of MNEs enhances the spillover effect of knowledge flows from competitors (F23) | TFP growth (O49) |