Determinants of Absorptive Capacity: a systematic literature review

Naijela Janaina Costa Silveira; Diogo Ferraz; Diego Scarpa de Mello; Eduardo Polloni-Silva; Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto; Herick Fernando Moralles

doi:10.15675/gepros.v16i2.2762

Authors

Naijela Janaina Costa Silveira https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1398-2384
Diogo Ferraz University of Hohenheim https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4037-7171
Diego Scarpa de Mello https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5193-7106
Eduardo Polloni-Silva
Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0611-1492
Herick Fernando Moralles https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5141-2433

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15675/gepros.v16i2.2762

Keywords:

Foreign Direct Investment, Productivity, Spillover of knowledge.

Abstract

Purpose – To conduct a literature review on the determinants of Absorptive Capacity (AC), which allows for productivity spillovers from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in developed and developing countries.
Theoretical framework – This study is based on the literature indicating that before benefiting from spillovers, companies need a certain level of knowledge and expertise.
Design/methodology/approach – A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of empirical studies on AC and productivity spillovers is presented. A total of 60 articles were reviewed.
Findings – The SLR revealed that human capital and R&D investments are the most frequently cited determinants of AC. R&D is especially important for developing countries.
Research, Practical & Social implications – Public policies targeting R&D development may be a valuable strategy to facilitate productivity spillovers in developing countries.
Originality/value – This paper analyzes the determinants of AC while verifying how both developed and developing countries can benefit from FDI, which is of great importance considering the growth of FDI in developing countries.
Keywords - Foreign Direct Investment. Productivity. Spillover.

Author Biography

Diogo Ferraz, University of Hohenheim

Doutor em Engenharia de Produção pela Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ph.D. candidate em Economia na Universität Hohenheim (Departamento de Economia - Economia da Inovação, Stuttgart/Alemanha). Economista. Possui experiência em modelos econométricos, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) e Agent-Based Modelling (ABM). Utiliza dados do Banco Mundial, PNAD/IBGE e RAIS/CAGED (MTE) por meio dos softwares Stata, NetLogo e Matlab. A área de pesquisa relaciona questões sobre Bioeconomia, Desenvolvimento Humano, Complexidade Econômica e Inovação. Em 2018, trabalhou como Pesquisador Visitante na Universität Hohenheim. Em 2019, recebeu o prêmio Lions-Club-Förderpreis na Alemanha. Membro dos grupos de pesquisa: Análise de Desempenho de Sistemas Produtivos (USP), Sustentabilidade e Desenvolvimento Humano (UNESP-Bauru), Gestão e Tecnologia (GeTec/UFSCar) e Grupo de Estudos em Finanças (GeFin/UFSCar).

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