Balancing the trade-off between learning prospects and spillover risks: MNC subsidiaries’ vertical linkage patterns in developed countries

Alessandra Perri, Ulf Andersson, Phillip C. Nell and Grazia Santangelo

Journal of World Business, 2013, vol. 48, issue 4, 503-514

Abstract: This paper investigates local vertical linkages of foreign subsidiaries and the dual role of such linkages as conduits for learning as well as potential channels for spillovers to competitors. On the basis of data from 97 subsidiaries, we analyze the quality of such linkages under varying levels of competition and subsidiary capabilities. Our theoretical development and the results from the analysis document a far more complex and dynamic relationship between levels of competition and MNCs’ local participation in knowledge intensive activities, i.e. learning and spillovers, than previous studies do. We find a curvilinear relationship between the extent of competitive pressure and the quality of local linkages confirming our argument of a trade-off between learning prospects and spillover risks. Furthermore, the level of subsidiary capabilities moderates this relationship.

Keywords: Quality of local vertical linkages; Competitive pressure; Subsidiary capabilities; Learning; Spillovers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2012.09.006

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