Learning by doing and spillovers: an empirical study on the TFT-LCD industry

In this study, learning spillovers in the production of TFT-LCD are investigated with the quarterly market data on TFT-LCD panel prices and the plant-level data on panel outputs and glass inputs. Learning curves of TFT-LCD are estimated with a multi-output model, which is developed and modified from a traditional single output model. It turns out that spillovers are significant and external learning from rival companies' production experience is much bigger than internal learning from a company's own production experience. It means that newcomers can easily enter into the TFT-LCD industry to acquire manufacturing technical skills and know-how. The difference between internal and external learning is smaller in the 3rd generation process than in the 2nd generation process when Korean enterprises went into market in full scale. Moreover, Korean firms' experience from DRAM production enables them to lower their learning curves of TFT-LCD easily, which is another factor of their success. This study explains industrial dynamics of TFT-LCD, entry barrier, leadership change, etc, using learning curves. It also delivers implications for the persistence of leadership.