Multinational corporations, knowledge spillovers and spin-offs in Mexico. Does the country of origin make the difference?

This article analyzes brain drain in multinational businesses (mnb's) in Mexico and the formation of spin-offs that result from foreign investment. We also offer a new analysis of findings from the "Multinational Firms in Mexico: A study of organizational structure, innovation, and employment practices" survey. We suggest that the level of centralization and the business model of each mnb is related to its country of origin, and that these factors may explain the emergence of spin-offs and the level of involvement these spin-offs have with global value chains.