Buyinza, Faisal2023-01-262023-01-262009Buyinza, F. (2009). Labour Mobility and Export Productivity Spillovers: A case for Uganda manufacturing firms. MaNerere University, Faculty of Economics and Management.JEL codes: 012 D2Y F23https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/7277This paper analyses the potential for productivity spillovers from foreign firms through worker mobility using panel data on manufacturing firms for Uganda. The hypothesis is that that the potential for spillovers from foreign firms can be particularly beneficial to domestic firm through worker mobility because the technological superiority and management experience of foreign firms yield various opportunities for learning, and this is evaluated empirically. Further the role of gender based skills in explaining productivity spillovers within firms is explored. Yet the importance of knowledge spillovers of foreign firms might vary with respect to the domestic firms’ productivity level and firm size and export status. The results show that the potential for spillovers is importantly related to export status of firms and prior experience acquired from foreign firms. Firms that hire experienced workers from foreign firms reap more productivity spillovers in Uganda. Also spillovers differ markedly between small and large firms. In line with the absorptive capacity of firms, it is argued on the basis of an empirical analysis of Ugandan firms that large and more productive firms are more able to reap spillovers from foreign firms than smaller firms.enforeign firms, domestic firms, worker mobility, productivity spilloverssWorking Paper