The importance of the Japanese keiretsu groups for knowledge spillover
The importance of the Japanese keiretsu groups for knowledge spillover

Summary/Abstract: It is widely recognised that both within and between Japanese vertical keiretsu groups considerable knowledge flows occur. The results of empirical research, however, are not explicit. Although they confirm the hypothesis that between companies affiliated in vertical keiretsu knowledge transfer occurs, it is only diffusion of imitation processes. What is absent, however, is the diffusion of such knowledge which could provide the basis for generating an innovation. It means that association in keiretsu groups promotes only transfers of certain manufacturing patterns or management techniques but not of innovation. The phenomenon of knowledge diffusion has also been observed between companies from various vertical keiretsu.

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