← All articles

Photo · Gordon More

Exporting, R&D, and absorptive capacity in UK establishments

Richard Harris, Qian Cher Li · 2008 · Oxford Economic Papers

Summary. This study examines what drives UK establishments to export and how much they export. Using innovation survey data, the researchers find that firm size matters significantly. R&D activities and absorptive capacity—the ability to understand and use scientific knowledge, collaborate internationally, and organize effectively—help firms enter export markets. However, once firms export, only absorptive capacity linked to scientific knowledge boosts their export performance; R&D spending alone does not.

Read the original

Cite this article

Harris, R., & Li, Q. C.. (2008). Exporting, R&D, and absorptive capacity in UK establishments. Oxford Economic Papers. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpn011

Details

DOI
10.1093/oep/gpn011
Countries
United Kingdom
Regions
Europe
Categories
innovation-networks, innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added
2026-04-28