Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Research Institute of Industrial Economics

No 616: Location of R&D and High-Tech Production by Vertically Integrated Multinationals

Karolina Ekholm () and Katariina Hakkala ()
Additional contact information
Karolina Ekholm: Stockholm School of Economics, Postal: Department of Economics, P.O. Box 6501, SE-113 83 Stockholm, Sweden
Katariina Hakkala: The Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Postal: P.O. Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: This paper presents evidence that, in Europe, production of high-tech goods is attracted to large markets, while R&D activities tend to be located away from them. In order to explain this phenomenon, we develop a two-country general equilibrium model where firms make separate choices about the location of R&D and high-tech production. There are two agglomeration forces: R&D spillovers and a home-market effect creating incentives for firms to locate production in the relatively large market. We show that, for relatively weak R&D spillovers and intermediate trade costs, the smaller economy tends to specialize in R&D. We also discuss the welfare consequences of different outcomes with respect to the location of R&D, showing that while skilled labor may gain from hosting an agglomeration of R&D activities, unskilled labor will lose.

Keywords: Monopolistic Competition; R&D; High-Tech Production; Agglomeration Economies

JEL-codes: F12; F23

48 pages, April 26, 2004

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