Purpose

This study aims to integrate both internal and external factors to examine the effect of innovation and perceived trade barriers on firms’ export activity. In particular, the authors expand the scope of innovation into both technological (product and process) and non-technological (marketing and management) innovation. Furthermore, the authors examine the potential joint effect of perceived customs and trade barriers on firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors empirically test the hypotheses by using firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey during the most recent year available for each ASEAN country, together with both firm- and country-level controls from various data sources. Specifically, the final sample for analysis includes 3,602 firms from Cambodia (100), Indonesia (1157), Laos (99), Malaysia (445), the Philippines (719), Thailand (572) and Vietnam (510).

Findings

First, the results show that firm-specific innovation capabilities (including non-technological of managerial innovation) do matter for explaining export propensity. Furthermore, in contexts in which location-bound advantages are prevalent, the effects of innovation may disappear and further deteriorate performance in the post-entry stage. Second, the findings support the notion regarding the prevalence of country- over firm-specific advantages for the international expansion of companies from ASEAN countries. More specifically, this study holds that innovation does not matter for export intensity and that factors related to the location’s institutions appear to be more important.

Originality/value

First, it acknowledges and examines the effect of not only technological innovation, but also non-technological innovation on export intention. Second, the paper measures the institutional effect at the firm level, rather than as a country-specific factor, to better understand the combined effect of internal and external variables on firms’ export strategy. Furthermore, it performs a cross-country analysis while controlling for other confounding firm and macro factors. Third, the authors test the model on both pre-entry (export propensity) and post-entry (export intensity) stages. Finally, the study responds to calls for research that examines the international competitive advantages of firms from ASEAN countries.

中文翻译：

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创新、贸易壁垒和出口：来自东盟国家制造企业的证据

目的

本研究旨在整合内部和外部因素，以检验创新和感知贸易壁垒对企业出口活动的影响。特别是，作者将创新的范围扩大到技术（产品和流程）和非技术（营销和管理）创新。此外，作者研究了感知到的海关和贸易壁垒对企业的潜在联合影响。

设计/方法/途径

作者通过使用每个东盟国家最近一年世界银行企业调查的公司层面数据，以及来自不同数据源的公司和国家层面的控制，对这些假设进行了实证检验。具体而言，用于分析的最终样本包括来自柬埔寨（100）、印度尼西亚（1157）、老挝（99）、马来西亚（445）、菲律宾（719）、泰国（572）和越南（510）的 3,602 家公司。

发现

首先，结果表明，企业特定的创新能力（包括非技术管理创新）对解释出口倾向很重要。此外，在区位优势普遍存在的情况下，创新的影响可能会消失，并进一步恶化进入后阶段的绩效。其次，研究结果支持关于东盟国家公司国际扩张的国家优势优于公司优势的观点。更具体地说，这项研究认为创新对出口强度并不重要，而与地区制度相关的因素似乎更为重要。

原创性/价值

首先，它承认并检验了不仅是技术创新，还有非技术创新对出口意愿的影响。其次，本文衡量了公司层面的制度效应，而不是作为特定国家的因素，以更好地理解内部和外部变量对公司出口战略的综合影响。此外，它在控制其他混杂的公司和宏观因素的同时进行跨国分析。第三，作者在进入前（出口倾向）和进入后（出口强度）阶段测试模型。最后，该研究响应了对东盟国家企业的国际竞争优势进行研究的呼吁。