The effects of importing activities on technological and non-technological innovation: evidence from Chilean firms
International Journal of Emerging Markets
ISSN: 1746-8809
Article publication date: 23 November 2021
Issue publication date: 4 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The authors analyzed the effects of importing activities on both technological and non-technological innovation in Chile. They contribute to the literature by hypothesizing and testing the idea that importing activities can foster the introduction of product, process, marketing and organizational innovations in emerging market firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a combination of two economic surveys that included 1,347 Chilean companies. To test their hypotheses, they applied a variant of the Crépon-Duguet-Mairesse (CDM) model (Crépon et al., 1998) accounting for technological and non-technological innovation outputs. Specifically, four alternative innovation output indicators were used to measure the introduction of product, process, marketing and organizational innovations.
Findings
The results revealed that importing activities had positive effects on technological and non-technological innovation. Importers showed a significant advantage in the introduction of product, marketing and organizational innovations. Firms that both import and export (i.e. two-way traders) had an even greater advantage in the introduction of new or significantly improved products.
Originality/value
The authors demonstrated a relationship between importing activities and both technological and non-technological innovation that is novel and relevant, particularly at a historical moment when COVID-19 poses huge economic challenges to emerging market firms. As trade disruptions caused by the pandemic have predisposed some governments to favor protectionist policies, the authors warn that erecting barriers against imports can hamper the innovative success of local businesses.
Keywords
Citation
Montégu, J.P., Pertuze, J.A. and Calvo, C. (2022), "The effects of importing activities on technological and non-technological innovation: evidence from Chilean firms", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 17 No. 7, pp. 1659-1678. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-05-2020-0534
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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