Capital or knowhow: The role of foreign multinationals in Sino-foreign joint ventures

China's success in attracting foreign direct investment has been cast in doubt as mainly a transfer of capital, not knowhow, because its financial system is incapable of allocating domestic savings and hard-earned foreign reserves to domestic enterprises. To shed light on this debate, we examine the determinants of equity sharing in Sino-foreign joint ventures with the premise that the roles of foreign direct investment (in transferring capital or knowhow) should be reflected in equity sharing between multinational firms and local firms. Our empirical analysis offers strong evidence for foreign direct investment as a transfer of knowhow, but limited support for foreign direct investment as a transfer of capital, which points to the need for further reform in China's financial system.

Research highlights► Foreign multinationals may bring capital and/or knowhow to international joint ventures.► Transfer of capital is more important for projects that are larger and more capital intensive.► Transfer of knowhow is more important for more technology intensive projects.► Knowhow, not capital, is important in determining the equity shares of foreign multinationals in Sino-foreign joint ventures.