The determinants of R&D investment: A survey of the empirical research

Bettina Becker

Research output: Preprint or Working paperDiscussion paper

Abstract

This paper offers an extensive survey and a critical discussion of the empirical literature on the driving factors of R&D. These factors are subsumed under five broad types. The paper first summarises the key predictions from theory regarding each type's R&D effect. It then examines for which factors differences in the theoretical predictions can also be found in empirical studies, and for which factors the empirical evidence is more unanimous. As the focus is on the empirical literature, methodological issues are also highlighted. The major factor types identified in the literature are, individual firm or industry characteristics, particularly internal finance and sales; competition in product markets; R&D tax credits and subsidies; location and resource related factors, such as spillovers from university research within close geographic proximity, membership of a research joint venture and cooperation with research centres, and the human capital embodied in knowledge workers; and spillovers from foreign R&D. Although on balance there is a consensus regarding the R&D effects of most factors, there is also variation in results. Recent work suggests that accounting for non-linearities is one area of research that may explain and encompass contradictory findings.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherLoughborough University
Number of pages70
Volume9
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jul 2013

Publication series

NameEconomics discussion paper series
PublisherLoughborough University
No.WP2013–09
ISSN (Print)1750-4171

Keywords

  • R&D
  • R&D policy
  • innovation policy
  • financial constraints
  • competition
  • public funding
  • knowledge spillovers

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