Quality Innovation, Cost Innovation, Export, and Firm Productivity Evolution: Evidence from the Chinese Electronics Industry

Liu, Mengxiao and Wang, Luhang and Yi, Yimin (2022): Quality Innovation, Cost Innovation, Export, and Firm Productivity Evolution: Evidence from the Chinese Electronics Industry.

Abstract

This paper classifies innovation as quality-improving or cost-reducing and estimates a dynamic model incorporating firm export, quality innovation, and cost innovation decisions. Estimation results show that export, quality innovation, and cost innovation increase next-period firm productivity by 1.39%, 1.23%, and 1.27%, respectively. Additionally, quality innovation raises next-period export demand by 47%. Counterfactual analyses suggest that (1) foreign market growth has a larger impact on firm export and innovation decisions than domestic market growth, but neither market significantly affects firm productivity; (2) subsidizing continuing quality innovators generates the highest financial return, and subsidizing continuing cost innovators brings the most productivity gain.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: export; quality innovation; cost innovation; firm productivity; dynamic estimation; neural network; machine learning; trade liberalization; innovation policy
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C4 - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics > C45 - Neural Networks and Related Topics; F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F14 - Empirical Studies of Trade; L - Industrial Organization > L1 - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance; L - Industrial Organization > L1 - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance > L10 - General; L - Industrial Organization > L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior > L25 - Firm Performance: Size, Diversification, and Scope

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