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Innovation in private and state-owned enterprises: A cross-industry analysis of patenting activity

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  • Castelnovo, Paolo

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to compare the innovation output of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Privately-Owned Enterprises (POEs), as measured by patent activity, taking a cross-industry perspective. Estimation results focusing on EU countries over the period 2011–2018 reveals that in some medium high-tech manufacturing industries (i.e., manufacturing of chemical products and motor-vehicles) and in the gas and electricity industries the innovative performance of SOEs is on average superior to those of POEs. No statistically significant difference can be detected in high-tech manufacturing, while in knowledge intensive services the evidence is mixed: SOEs innovation output is inferior to POEs’ in professional, scientific, and technical activities; yet SOEs outperform POEs in transport services. Overall, these results suggest that, in specific economic sectors, SOEs may act as an important vehicle for technological development.

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  • Castelnovo, Paolo, 2022. "Innovation in private and state-owned enterprises: A cross-industry analysis of patenting activity," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 98-113.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:62:y:2022:i:c:p:98-113
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2022.05.007
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