Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.9, 2013

Technology Spillovers in the Transnational Outsourcing System and the Technological Innovation of the Receiving Country

(Abstract)

Wang Jun

Unlike FDI or international trade, transnational outsourcing does not incur technology spillovers through a singular path, but takes effect through the interaction of a variety of paths such as import spillovers, export spillovers and pure intellectual spillovers. This study is based on the knowledge production function method to establish the international R&D spillover regression equation, with a view to testing the effects of different technology spillover channels of transnational outsourcing on technological innovation of the Chinese manufacturing industry. The results show that among the three technology spillover channels of transnational outsourcing, only the import spillover effect is significant, and that there exist noticeable differences across industries: high-technology industries are significant in low-level points, whereas medium and low technology industries are significant in medium and high level points. Our empirical study suggests that it is hard for local Chinese enterprises to achieve technological innovation through “learning from exporting” and “learning in exchanges.”