CEPII, Recherche et Expertise sur l'economie mondiale
The Effects at Home of Initiating Production Abroad: Evidence from Matched French Firms


Alexander Hijzen
Sébastien Jean
Thierry Mayer

 Highlights :

 Abstract :
Based on matching techniques in combination with a difference-in-difference estimator, this paper estimates the effects at home of initiating production abroad through the establishment of a foreign production affiliate. The analysis covers manufacturing and service firms active in France during the period 1987-1999. We show that the motivation to start producing abroad is an important determinant of its impact at home. Market-seeking FDI in manufacturing is associated with significant scale effects, resulting in job creation. By contrast, factor-seeking FDI in manufacturing has no significant effect on employment. However, there is some evidence that this type of FDI is associated with technology effects, in the form of greater capital-intensity and efficiency, as well as larger exports. Finally, FDI in service sectors is associated with significant positive employment effects, presumably reflecting the importance of the market-seeking motive in these sectors.

 Keywords : FDI | MULTINATIONALS | PROPRENSITY SCORE MATCHING | SERVICES | DELOCALISATION

 JEL : F14, F21, F23
CEPII Working Paper
N°2009-39, December 2009

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 Fields of expertise

Competitiveness & Growth
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