Sanjaya Lall: The Scholar and the Policy Advisor

This paper presents Sanjaya Lall’s biography with a focus on his major scholarly and policy works. It identifies Lall’s globally recognized contributions in the fields of multinationals and development, industrial policy, technological capabilities and methodologies on international competitiveness. Dissatisfied with mainstream neoclassical theory Lall used empirical evidence to build the evolutionary alternative to construct theory and provide policy advice to governments.(Please Puchase For Further Reading)Sanjaya Lall, multinationals, industrial policy, technology, competitiveness

Institutions and Public-Private Partnerships: Learning and Innovation in Electronics Firms in Penang, Johor and Batam-Karawang

Using the systemic quad model, this paper seeks to examine the extent to which electronics firms are linked with the critical pillars of basic infrastructure, high tech infrastructure, global integration and network cohesion, and their impact on knowledge depth and technological capabilities in Penang, Johor, and Batam-Karawang. Penang’s superior systemic quad is reflected in higher firm-level knowledge depth and technological capabilities compared to Johor and Batam-Karawang. It is only in HR practices that technological capabilities of electronics firms in the three locations are not very different. The results show that attempts to stimulate technological catch up will require policy efforts to strengthen the four critical systemic pillars. (Please Purchase For Further Reading)Systemic quad, technological capabilities, knowledge, Indonesia, Malaysia

Ownership and Technological Capabilities: Evidence from Automotive Firms in Brazil, India and South Africa

This paper examines the strength of embedding systemic and institutional support,firm-level technological capabilities and the relationship between the two in Brazil, India and South Africa. Despite Brazil and South Africa enjoying stronger exposure to external markets, firms in these countries enjoyed slightly lower technological capabilities than those in India. Stronger human capital endowments and network cohesion have helped firms in India to offset a lack of integration in external markets to drive higher technological capabilities compared to firms in Brazil and South Africa. The systemic pillars are positively correlated with firm-level technological capabilities. Foreign ownership was positively correlated with human resource practices and R&D, demonstrating the potential for strong technological spillovers from foreign to local firms. Export-intensity was positively correlated with R&D,demonstrating that the latter is critical for firms to compete in foreign markets.- automotives, Brazil, clusters, India, institutions, South Africa, technology

Ownership and Technological Intensities in Ugandan Manufacturing

This paper examines productivity, export-intensity and technological differences between foreign and local firms in metal engineering, food and beverages, and plastics firms in Uganda using an adapted version of the technological capability framework. Although the results were mixed, foreign firms enjoyed higher and statistically significant technological capabilities than local firms, and in its components of human resource, process technology and adaptive engineering. The relationship between labour productivity and export intensity, and technological intensity was stronger in foreign firms than in local firms. The relationship between foreign ownership and adaptive engineering was also positive and significant. Despite 25 per cent of the foreign firms enjoying no cross-border subsidiaries, foreign firms showed higher participation in adaptive engineering activities than local firms.(Please Puchase For Further Reading)Productivity, technological intensity, exports, skills, ownership, Uganda

The Role of Institutions and Linkages in Learning and Innovation

This paper presents the evolutionary meaning, rationale and context of institutions and the linkages that have been necessary to stimulate learning and innovation. Institutions and institutional change are central to driving learning and innovation. The processes of innovation do not end at the point of its creation. Linkages are important in the spread and diffusion of stocks of knowledge, which not only act as building blocks for new stocks of knowledge but also are synergized further through creative duplication and accumulation into new stocks of knowledge. Where linking with multinationals has figured strongly leveraging has had a strong influence on upgrading. Also important has been the role of mesoorganizations that were subject to stringent institutions.- evolutionary, innovation, institutions, learning, leveraging, linkages

Poverty and Student Performance in Malaysia

The objectives of this study are to identify the costs of schooling borne by parents, to assess the extent to which these costs place a financial burden on poor and rural parents and to examine the impact of parental income on student performance. The study surveyed both the rural and urban children in Malaysian secondary schools. The evidence underscores the importance of schooling expenditure and the distribution of the availability of schooling facilities to all. Providing sufficient financial assistance such as subsidies and scholarships for poor students should continue to be very high on policy agenda.- schooling expenditure, secondary schools, student performance, Malaysia

Export and Innovation in Cambodian clothing manufacturing firms

Export and Innovation in Cambodian clothing manufacturing firm

Inward FDI in Malaysia and its policy context

Malaysia is still perceived as an important destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). Deregulation by the Malaysian government in 1986 with a new round of Pioneer status tax holidays, tax allowances for expansion projects, liberal rules for firms operating in free trade zones (FTZs), and tax exemptions are encouraging stronger FDI inflows (IFDI). IFDI flows reached a peak in 1988-1993 as export-oriented foreign multinational enterprises (MNEs) relocated manufacturing production operations to Malaysia to benefit from cheap labor, government incentives and liberal conditions for manufacturing FDI. After 1996, due to the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998, IFDI flows into Malaysia decreased and subsequently recorded the lowest level in 2001 as a result of the world trade recession. Following steady growth in 2002-2007, IFDI in Malaysia fell dramatically in 2008 and 2009 due to the global economic crisis. However, a strong resumption in the first quarter of 2010 and government efforts, including continued liberalization of manufacturing and services, the Government Transformation Programme, promoting new key economic areas, and the active role of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), contributed to an increase in inward FDI flows in the second quarter of 2010