Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Research Institute of Industrial Economics

No 693: Cross-Border Acquisition or Greenfield Entry: Does it Matter for Affiliate R&D?

Olivier Bertrand, Katariina Hakkala () and Pehr-Johan Norbäck ()
Additional contact information
Olivier Bertrand: GREMAQ, Postal: University of Toulouse
Katariina Hakkala: Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Postal: P.O. Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden
Pehr-Johan Norbäck: Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Postal: P.O. Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: This paper investigates how the entry mode of foreign direct investment (FDI) affects the affiliate R&D activities using unique data on Swedish multinational firms over a long period of time (1970 to 1998). On average, acquired affiliates are more likely to do R&D and have a higher level of R&D intensity than affiliates created by greenfield entry. This difference in observed R&D is explained by differences in parent, affiliate, industry and country characteristics as well as by different reactions to these characteristics, as predicted by the recent theoretical literature on international mergers and acquisitions (M&As). The results also suggest that M&As are, to a larger extent, motivated by asset-seeking motives than greenfield entry, especially in the 1990s.

Keywords: FDI; M&A; Greenfield Investment; R&D; Multinational Firm

JEL-codes: F23; L10; L20; O30

49 pages, January 30, 2007

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