Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.

Based on microdata of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2009 to 2022 as research samples, this paper takes the implementation of Free Trade Zones policy as the starting point and using the difference in differences method to analyze the impact of the establishment of Free Trade...

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Main Authors: Jijun Zhang, Haowei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322125
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author Jijun Zhang
Haowei Wang
author_facet Jijun Zhang
Haowei Wang
author_sort Jijun Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Based on microdata of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2009 to 2022 as research samples, this paper takes the implementation of Free Trade Zones policy as the starting point and using the difference in differences method to analyze the impact of the establishment of Free Trade Zones on the internationalization level of enterprises. The empirical results indicate that (1) Free Trade Zones policysignificantly improved enterprises' internationalization level, and the conclusion still holds after a series of endogeneity and robustness tests. (2) Mechanism analysis showedthat digital transformation, resource allocation efficiency, and green innovation are intermediary variables affecting enterprises' internationalization levels in Free Trade Zones. The establishment of Free Trade Zones can promote digital transformation, resource allocation efficiency, and green innovation of enterprises, thereby enhancing their internationalization level. (3) Heterogeneity analysis found that establishing free trade experiments has a more significant effect on improving the internationalization level of enterprises in low city levels, large-sized companies, capital-intensive and technology-intensive companies, businesses with executives who have overseas experience, and high-tech companies (4) Further research has found that the establishment of Free Trade Zones also has a positive spatial spillover effect on enterprises in surrounding cities. The above conclusion enriched and expanded the research on the impact of the establishment of Free Trade Zones on the internationalization level of enterprises and has important practical significance for enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises.
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spelling doaj-art-8567f1cd5b5141e48df8c620cf018b5c2025-08-20T03:28:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01207e032212510.1371/journal.pone.0322125Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.Jijun ZhangHaowei WangBased on microdata of A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2009 to 2022 as research samples, this paper takes the implementation of Free Trade Zones policy as the starting point and using the difference in differences method to analyze the impact of the establishment of Free Trade Zones on the internationalization level of enterprises. The empirical results indicate that (1) Free Trade Zones policysignificantly improved enterprises' internationalization level, and the conclusion still holds after a series of endogeneity and robustness tests. (2) Mechanism analysis showedthat digital transformation, resource allocation efficiency, and green innovation are intermediary variables affecting enterprises' internationalization levels in Free Trade Zones. The establishment of Free Trade Zones can promote digital transformation, resource allocation efficiency, and green innovation of enterprises, thereby enhancing their internationalization level. (3) Heterogeneity analysis found that establishing free trade experiments has a more significant effect on improving the internationalization level of enterprises in low city levels, large-sized companies, capital-intensive and technology-intensive companies, businesses with executives who have overseas experience, and high-tech companies (4) Further research has found that the establishment of Free Trade Zones also has a positive spatial spillover effect on enterprises in surrounding cities. The above conclusion enriched and expanded the research on the impact of the establishment of Free Trade Zones on the internationalization level of enterprises and has important practical significance for enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322125
spellingShingle Jijun Zhang
Haowei Wang
Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.
PLoS ONE
title Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.
title_full Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.
title_fullStr Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.
title_full_unstemmed Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.
title_short Can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises? - Evidence from micro-enterprise level.
title_sort can the establishment of free trade zones promote the internationalization of enterprises evidence from micro enterprise level
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322125
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