Agricultural technology transfer between the United States and China: An empirical study.

摘要

A generalizable model of the international technology process was developed. Effectiveness is a function of inputs (monetary, physical and human resources invested by the companies or individuals involved), influencing factors (societal, governmental, cultural and situational factors), the type of technology and the mode of transfer (direct sales, licensing, joint venture, or wholly owned subsidiary). These can be measured or ranked quantitatively. Effectiveness can be defined as a weighted combination of output measures depending on the users’ perspective.; Using the model, a detailed survey of 134 Chinese companies that received U.S. agricultural technology was conducted. Effectiveness was related by statistical regression techniques to monetary resources, human resources, technology input itself and appropriateness of technology for three technology transfer modes-direct sales, equity joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries. The relationship proved significant and seemed logical, suggesting the usefulness of the model.; As a further check of the model concept and the Chinese survey results, two U.S. companies involved with successful agricultural technology to China were studied in depth. Also 14 of the U.S. companies that were partners with some of the 134 Chinese companies were interviewed. These results further support the model usefulness and the reasonableness of the survey results.