Foreign Direct Investment and Technology Spillovers in the Turkish Manufacturing Industry

Technology spillovers from foreign to domestic firms in emerging economies are considered to be the most important channel through which Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) influence the host economy. Empirical evidence about the existence, magnitude and direction of FDI-related spillovers in these countries is contradictory pointing to the necessity of conducting more econometric studies using firm-level data. We conduct an econometric analysis to assess the impact of FDI-related horizontal technology spillovers on output growth of domestic firms in the Turkish manufacturing industry over 2003-2006. When a broad definition of foreign ownership is adopted, our findings suggest that horizontal spillovers occur from foreign to local firms in the sector of activity. Export-oriented firms do not benefit from these spillovers in contrast to firms producing mainly for the domestic market. However, when foreign ownership is defined according to whether the minority or majority of capital is detained by the foreign partner, horizontal spillovers seem to originate from foreign firms with majority or full foreign ownership while no such effect is associated with minority-owned foreign firms.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), multinational corporations, foreign ownership, productivity, technology spillovers, knowledge spillovers, horizontal spillovers, Turkey.

Technology Transfer in the Global Automotive Value Chain. Lessons from the Turkish Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is one of the main contributors to value added, employment and exports of the Turkish economy and it has undergone major changes since the mid-nineties. Most of the automotive manufacturers in Turkey are either joint ventures or wholly-owned affiliates of multinational companies. Literature on global value chains point to the possibility of technology transfer occurring through backward linkages from automotive manufacturers to their suppliers. We test for the existence and the importance of different types of knowledge and technology transfer mechanisms in the Turkish automotive industry. In addition, characteristics of local suppliers impacting on these transfers and their impact on firm performance are analyzed.Asurvey based on a detailed questionnaire was administered to production/R&D managers of the 158 automotive suppliersoperating in Turkey in 2010. Logistic and ordinal regressionsare used to examine the aforementioned issues. Findings confirm the existence of transfers from customers to their local suppliers on co-design and co-development activities, designing of production tools, development/improvement of quality control methods, cost reduction and design of materials. In addition, econometric analysis points to the fact that these transfers exert a positive effect on the performance of supplier firms.Automotive Industry, Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Multinational Companies (MNCs), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Innovation, Research and Development (R&D)

Foreign direct investment and technology spillovers in the Turkish manufacturing industry

Technology spillovers from foreign to domestic firms in emerging economies are considered to be the most important channel through which Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) influence the host economy. Empirical evidence about the existence, magnitude and direction of FDI-related spillovers in these countries is contradictory pointingto the necessity of conducting more econometric studies using firm-level data. We conduct an econometric analysis to assess the impact of FDI-related horizontal technology spillovers on output growth of domestic firmsin the Turkish manufacturing industry over 2003-2006. Whena broad definition of foreign ownership is adopted,our findings suggest that horizontal spillovers occur from foreign to local firms in the sectorof activity. Export-oriented firms do notbenefit from these spillovers in contrast to firmsproducing mainly for the domestic market. However, when foreign ownership is defined according to whether the minority or majority of capital is detained by the foreign partner, horizontal spillovers seem to originate from foreign firms with majority or full foreign ownership while no such effect is associated with minority-owned foreign firms

Comparison of sagittal plane realignment and reduction with posterior instrumentation in developmental low or high dysplastic spondylolisthesis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: In situ fusion is the gold standard method of treatment of spondylolisthesis. There is no study in the literature evaluating the effect of sagittal contour realignment on clinical outcomes in comparison with the addition of anterior slippage reduction. PURPOSE: The correction of sagittal plane vs. reduction with instrumentation in the patients with low or high dysplastic spondylolisthesis. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A prospective randomized study in patients treated with the same surgical team at the same center. PATIENT SAMPLE: 40 patients, 20 with low and 20 with high dysplastic spondylolisthesis (mean age: 33.1±10.6; average follow-up: 37.9±11.9 Mo.). OUTCOME MEASURES: The extent of displacement, lumbosacral angle values, lumbar sagittal contours, correction rates, JOA scores, SRS-22 questionnaire were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the final visit. Fusion rates, complications and quality of fusion were recorded. METHODS: 4 groups of patients were generated. Only posterolateral fusion, neural decompression, and sagittal plane correction with posterior instrumentation using 3rd generation instrumentation system transpedicular screws was accomplished in 20 patients (low dysplastic: 10 patients, high dysplastic: 10 patients). Additional reduction of anterior slippage was done in the remaining 20 patients (low dysplastic: 10 patients, high dysplastic: 10 patients). RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between low vs. high dysplastic patients and between patients with sagittal contour realignment vs. patients with additional anterior slippage reduction (p>0.05). The correction rates for displacement were statistically similar at the final visit. Postoperative and final JOA and SRS scores were similar between in situ fusion and reduction groups (p>0.05). A solid fusion mass of 77.5 % was achieved in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of fusion was achieved with posterolateral in situ fusion with or without reduction; and an additional reduction procedure did not have a statistically detectable impact on clinical outcomes. Successful fusion and neural decompression were the most important parameters that have an impact on clinical outcomes in patients with developmental spondylolisthesis, irrespective of the extent of preoperative displacement and the type of listhesis

Türkiye Otomotiv Sektöründe Çokuluslu Şirketler Aracılığıyla Ana Sanayiden Yan Sanayiye Yapılan Bilgi ve Teknoloji Transferinin Analizi

The main question at the basis of this research project is whether Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurring in the Turkish automobile industry has any effect on local suppliers, especially whether and to what extent it leads to knowledge and technology transfers towards local suppliers. Therefore, the main objective is to determine what - if any - kind of knowledge and technology transfers occur from multinational companies (MNCs) in direction of their local suppliers in the Turkish automotive industry in the field of product design and production processes. In addition, the project aims at revealing those characteristics of local suppliers that influence the occurrence of these transfers, the place of these firms in the value chain of MNCs and the effect of the aforementioned transfers on the performance of local suppliers. In the course of this analysis, the volume and nature of innovation and research and development (R&D) activities of these firms will be explored as well. The main reason for focusing on the automotive industry is the fact that the globalization process as well as technology and innovation activities of firms have been taking place now more rapidly and at a more global scale in the automotive industry than in many other industries. Other reasons are the existence of a large number of foreign firms in the Turkish automobile industry, the existence of increasing relationships between MNCs and local firms and the extensive R&D and innovation activities of firms taking place in this sector. To these must be added its growth and employment creation potential which has led this industry to become one of the most important strategic industries in the Turkey. In this research project, two different methods were used to collect detailed data and information at the firm-level. First, a detailed questionnaire survey was designed and later conducted face to face with the production and/or R&D managers of the local suppliers. Second, face to face interviews based on a semi-structured interview guide were carried out with the top level managers of the main automotive manufacturers in Turkey. The main findings are: there are knowledge and technology transfers from foreign firms to their local suppliers on co-designer and co-development activities, the designing of production tools, the development or improvement of quality and control methods, the cost reduction and the design of materials. Econometric analysis points to the fact that these transfers exert a positive effect on the performance of supplier firms

Türkiye Otomotiv Sektöründe Çokuluslu Şirketler Aracılığıyla Ana Sanayiden Yan Sanayiye Yapılan Bilgi ve Teknoloji Transferinin Analizi

The main question at the basis of this research project is whether Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurring in the Turkish automobile industry has any effect on local suppliers, especially whether and to what extent it leads to knowledge and technology transfers towards local suppliers. Therefore, the main objective is to determine what - if any - kind of knowledge and technology transfers occur from multinational companies (MNCs) in direction of their local suppliers in the Turkish automotive industry in the field of product design and production processes. In addition, the project aims at revealing those characteristics of local suppliers that influence the occurrence of these transfers, the place of these firms in the value chain of MNCs and the effect of the aforementioned transfers on the performance of local suppliers. In the course of this analysis, the volume and nature of innovation and research and development (R&D) activities of these firms will be explored as well. The main reason for focusing on the automotive industry is the fact that the globalization process as well as technology and innovation activities of firms have been taking place now more rapidly and at a more global scale in the automotive industry than in many other industries. Other reasons are the existence of a large number of foreign firms in the Turkish automobile industry, the existence of increasing relationships between MNCs and local firms and the extensive R&D and innovation activities of firms taking place in this sector. To these must be added its growth and employment creation potential which has led this industry to become one of the most important strategic industries in the Turkey. In this research project, two different methods were used to collect detailed data and information at the firm-level. First, a detailed questionnaire survey was designed and later conducted face to face with the production and/or R&D managers of the local suppliers. Second, face to face interviews based on a semi-structured interview guide were carried out with the top level managers of the main automotive manufacturers in Turkey. The main findings are: there are knowledge and technology transfers from foreign firms to their local suppliers on co-designer and co-development activities, the designing of production tools, the development or improvement of quality and control methods, the cost reduction and the design of materials. Econometric analysis points to the fact that these transfers exert a positive effect on the performance of supplier firms

Soluble CD40 Ligand Levels in Otherwise Healthy Subjects With Impaired Fasting Glucose

Unlike diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance, it is not clear whether the subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are at increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The CD40-CD40 ligand interaction is involved in the mechanism of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether soluble CD40L (sCD40L) as well as high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are increased in subjects with IFG having no confounding factors for inflammation or atherosclerosis. Twenty four IFG subjects with no additional disorders and 40 appropriate healthy controls were studied. sCD40L and hsCRP levels in the IFG and control groups were similar. Blood pressures, total and LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were also similar, whereas HDL-cholesterol was lower and HOMA-IR indexes were higher in the IFG group. Though the sample size was small, the present data show that sCD40L seems not to alter in subjects with IFG suggesting that it might not be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis

A collaborative platform for management of chronic diseases via guideline-driven individualized care plans

Older age is associated with an increased accumulation of multiple chronic conditions. The clinical management of patients suffering from multiple chronic conditions is very complex, disconnected and time-consuming with the traditional care settings. Integrated care is a means to address the growing demand for improved patient experience and health outcomes of multimorbid and long-term care patients. Care planning is a prevalent approach of integrated care, where the aim is to deliver more personalized and targeted care creating shared care plans by clearly articulating the role of each provider and patient in the care process. In this paper, we present a method and corresponding implementation of a semi-automatic care plan management tool, integrated with clinical decision support services which can seamlessly access and assess the electronic health records (EHRs) of the patient in comparison with evidence based clinical guidelines to suggest personalized recommendations for goals and interventions to be added to the individualized care plans. We also report the results of usability studies carried out in four pilot sites by patients and clinicians