Technological Intensity and the Export Effects of Investment Policy

Authors

  • Chiu-Chia Chen * Department of Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0137-4800
  • Chien-Yi Huang Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan.

https://doi.org/10.22105/masi.vi.92

Abstract

Technological upgrading has become a central instrument for promoting export-oriented transformation in manufacturing; yet, the moderating role of industry technology intensity and the structural volatility that may arise during transition remain underexplored. Using an industry-level panel dataset for Taiwan’s manufacturing sector (2016–2023), this study estimates fixed-effects and interaction-term models to evaluate heterogeneous policy effects across three export dimensions: export growth rate, export ratio, and export stability (operationalized as short-horizon volatility risk). The results indicate that, in high-tech industries, policy-induced investment is associated with stronger export ratio but also higher export volatility, pointing to a trade-off between structural upgrading and short-run stability. In contrast, traditional manufacturing exhibits relatively limited outward responses, consistent with an adjustment pattern in which technology investment is prioritized for internal reallocation and efficiency improvement rather than immediate export expansion. These findings highlight distinct operating logics determined by technology intensity: high-tech industries facing greater structural instability during upgrading, while traditional industries tend to internalize resources through capability strengthening. Consequently, policy design should be differentiated complementary measures are needed to manage volatility risks in high-tech sectors, while evaluations for traditional manufacturing should recognize longer adjustment horizons and avoid inferring effectiveness from a single export indicator.

Keywords:

Technology intensity, Export performance, Industry heterogeneity, Absorptive capacity

References

  1. [1] OECD. (2024). OECD Economic outlook. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-economic-outlook-volume-2024-issue-2_d8814e8b-en.html

  2. [2] Yang, G., Honggui, L., Yiming, N., Ziyang, Y., & Haisen, W. (2024). Digital transformation and firm performance: The role of factor allocation. Applied economics, 56(50), 6203–6220. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2023.2269631

  3. [3] Novotná, M., Volek, T., Rost, M., & Vrchota, J. (2021). Impact of technology investment on firm's production efficiency factor in manufacturing. Business economics and management (JBEM), 22(1), 135–155. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2020.13635

  4. [4] Hooks, D., Davis, Z., Agrawal, V., & Li, Z. (2022). Exploring factors influencing technology adoption rate at the macro level: A predictive model. Technology in Society, 68, 101826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101826

  5. [5] Basile, V., Tregua, M., & Giacalone, M. (2024). A three-level view of readiness models: Statistical and managerial insights on industry 4.0. Technology in society, 77, 102528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102528

  6. [6] Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990). Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation. Administrative science quarterly, 35(1), 128–152. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393553

  7. [7] Lee, K., & Malerba, F. (2017). Catch-up cycles and changes in industrial leadership:Windows of opportunity and responses of firms and countries in the evolution of sectoral systems. Research policy, 46(2), 338–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2016.09.006

  8. [8] Alfaro-Serrano, D., Balantrapu, T., Chaurey, R., Goicoechea, A., & Verhoogen, E. (2021). Interventions to promote technology adoption in firms: A systematic review. Campbell systematic reviews, 17(4), e1181. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1181

  9. [9] Reggiani, C., & Shevtsova, Y. (2018). Trade and productivity in a transition economy: the role of industry and export destination. Journal of industry, competition and trade, 18(3), 395–428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10842-018-0271-x

  10. [10] Borin, A., Mancini, M., & Taglioni, D. (2026). Economic consequences of trade and global value chain integration: A measurement perspective. The world bank economic review, 40(3), 736-759.. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhaf017

  11. [11] Chen, C. C., & Huang, C. Y. (2026). Industrial upgrading policies and export resilience: An empirical assessment of technology investment in Taiwan's manufacturing sector. Technology in society, 85, 103204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103204

  12. [12] Chiappini, R., & Gaglio, C. (2024). Digital intensity, trade costs and exports' quality upgrading. The World Economy, 47(2), 709–747. https://doi.org/10.1111/twec.13448

  13. [13] Dong, Y., He, X., & Blut, M. (2024). How and when does digitalization influence export performance? A meta-analysis of its consequences and contingencies. International marketing review, 41(6), 1388–1413. https://doi.org/10.1108/imr-02-2024-0044

  14. [14] Radosevic, S., & Yoruk, E. (2018). Technology upgrading of middle income economies: A new approach and results. Technological forecasting and social change, 129, 56–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.12.002

  15. [15] Pu, K., & Liu, W. (2023). Is absorptive capacity the "panacea" for organizational development? A META analysis of absorptive capacity and firm performance from the perspective of constructivism. Plos one, 18(2), e0282321. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282321

  16. [16] Raiher, A. P., do Carmo, A. S. S., & Stege, A. L. (2017). The effect of technological intensity of exports on the economic growth of Brazilian microregions: A spatial analysis with panel data. EconomiA, 18(3), 310–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econ.2017.03.001

  17. [17] Carneiro, J., Rocha, A. d., & Silva, J. F. d. (2007). A critical analysis of measurement models of export performance. BAR-Brazilian administration review, 4, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-76922007000200002

  18. [18] Vergara, S. (2019). The role of productive and technological capabilities on export dynamics in developing countries. United Nations. https://doi.org/10.18356/a7172cae-en

  19. [19] OECD. (2016). OECD taxonomy of economic activities based on R&D intensity. https://doi.org/10.1787/5jlv73sqqp8r-en

  20. [20] Berk, R. (2004). Regression analysis: A constructive critique. SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483348834

  21. [21] Baltagi, B. H. (2021). Econometric analysis of panel data. Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53953-5

  22. [22] Cameron, A. C., & Miller, D. L. (2015). A practitioner’s guide to cluster-robust inference. Journal of human resources, 50(2), 317–372. https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.50.2.317

  23. [23] Shimbov, B., Éltető, A., & Alguacil, M. (2025). Global value chain participation and the technology structure of exports: Experience from the central and Southeast European countries. Journal of applied economics, 28(1), 2564968. https://doi.org/10.1080/15140326.2025.2564968

  24. [24] Wang, P., & Liu, Z. (2025). Trade and flow of value in global value chains. International journal of finance & economics, 30(2), 1610–1631. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2980

  25. [25] Freund, C., & Pierola, M. D. (2018). The origins and dynamics of export superstars. The world bank economic review, 34(1), 28–47. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhy011

  26. [26] Antràs, P. (2020). De-globalisation? Global value chains in the post-COVID-19 age. http://www.nber.org/papers/w28115

  27. [27] Pavitt, K. (1984). Sectoral patterns of technical change: Towards a taxonomy and a theory. Research policy, 13(6), 343–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-7333(84)90018-0

Published

2026-06-26

How to Cite

Chen, C.-C., & Huang, C.-Y. . (2026). Technological Intensity and the Export Effects of Investment Policy. Management Analytics and Social Insights, 3(2), 139-150. https://doi.org/10.22105/masi.vi.92

Similar Articles

1-10 of 46

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.