Offshoring and Technological Change as Determinants of Innovation

This dissertation contributes to both the trade and the innovation literature. The papers mostly analyze firm dynamics and strategies that the firm can exploit to promote innovation as a conduit for longer-term productivity growth. The first paper investigates the structure of imported intermediates in developed countries and their impact on innovation. The following two papers deal with innovation activities of firms located in emerging countries and aim at improving the understanding of how these firms can engage in technological upgrading. Chapter two looks at the effect of outsourcing on innovation and chapter three at the effect of using information and communication technology on innovation