LAUSR

We consider theoretically and empirically how the location and organization of knowledge production evolve within domestic firms during the period of their acquisition by foreign multinationals. Acquisitions do not increase the risk of closure of the subsidiary’s research labs unless acquired by MNEs at the technological frontier. Conditional on keeping research in the subsidiary, there is a large decrease of innovation expenditures, transfer of knowledge and reorganization towards high-skilled workers. We show that innovations increase, which is a consequence of the complementarity between foreign technology transfers and skilled-workers in the subsidiary.