Ownership and technical efficiency in Malaysia's automotive industry: A stochastic frontier production function analysis

Abstract

This article examines the direct effect of the extent of foreign ownership on technical efficiency in Malaysia's automotive industry by applying a stochastic frontier production function analysis to micro-panel data over the years 2000–2004. Technical efficiency in the overall automotive industry is positively related to the degree of vertical integration, the size of establishments in the respective sub-sectors, a higher quality of the work force, and a higher foreign ownership share in the establishment combined with higher net-import intensity. Foreign ownership and net-export intensity are not significant determinants of technical efficiency inthe parts sub-sector. Although majority foreign ownership is not allowed in the assembly sub-sector, this sub-sector is large, with asmall number of establishments generating scale economies in the automotive industry. The determinants of technical efficiency in the parts sub-sector show that foreign ownership per se does not enhance technical efficiency since other determinants like the degree of vertical integration and the size of establishments are significant determinants of technical efficiency.