Produktywność i internacjonalizacja przedsiębiorstw w województwie łódzkim. Implikacje dla polityki gospodarczej

Enterprises from the Lodz region which have been internationally active between 2005 and 2011 were generally more productive than those active onlylocally. When it comes to productivity, the best results were achieved by direct investors, importers (of investment and intermediate goods) and exporters. Productivity determined internationalization through FDI and imports. In case of exports there was no such relationship, known as self-selection and confirmed in many other studies. Aspects not included in the study have been deemed as decisive for becoming an exporter. Involvement with international markets was also the source of synergy, since operators who were internationally present in a multitude of platforms achieved the highest level of productivity in the region. They were also usually larger businesses with longer track record, often internationally owned, which better coped with the crisis in 2009–2011. They were also more rarely influenced by political affiliations of any kind. However, it would be difficult to clearly point to specific industries preferred by international players. The region did not have any specific specialization profile. Regional government should strive for having the biggest possible population of internationally present enterprises. It means it should offer preferences to potential exporters, importers and investors, regardless of the size of the business and its sector of activity. The purpose is best served by creating favorable conditions for enterprises and horizontal aid schemes.