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Does issuing equity help R&D activity? Evidence from unlisted Italian high-tech manufacturing firms

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  • Silvia Magri

Abstract

This paper evaluates the causal effect of issuing equities on the probability that a firm engages in R&D activity. Equity is a better source of external finance than debt for innovation. It does not require collateral, does not exacerbate moral hazard problems connected with the substitution of high-risk for low-risk projects, quite common when using debt, and, unlike debt, does not increase the probability of bankruptcy; equity also allows investors to reap the entire benefit of the returns of successful innovative projects. This paper focuses on high-tech firms for which asymmetric information problems are more pervasive. Implementing an instrumental variable estimation, we find that issuing equity increases the probability that the firm has R&D expenditures by 30-40%. We detect considerable heterogeneity in this effect: the impact of issuing equity is significant only for small, young and more highly leveraged high-tech firms. We also find interesting evidence that issuing equity increases R&D expenditures in relation to sales.

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  • Silvia Magri, 2014. "Does issuing equity help R&D activity? Evidence from unlisted Italian high-tech manufacturing firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 825-854, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:23:y:2014:i:8:p:825-854
    DOI: 10.1080/10438599.2014.938574
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    3. Bernardina Algieri & Antonio Aquino & Marianna Succurro, 2020. "The Impact of Cash-Flow and the Main Components of the Capital Structure on Innovative Performances of European Firms," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 11(1-2).
    4. Raffaello Bronzini & Gianpaolo Caramellino & Silvia Magri, 2017. "Venture capitalists at work: what are the effects on the firms they finance?," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1131, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    5. Daniele Pianeselli, 2019. "Upwind sailors. Financial profile of innovative Italian firms during the double-dip recession," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 515, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    6. Antonelli, Cristiano & Scellato, Giuseppe, 2019. "Wage inequality and directed technological change: Implications for income distribution," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 59-65.
    7. Paolo Finaldi Russo & Silvia Magri & Cristiana Rampazzi, 2016. "Innovative start-ups in Italy: their special features and the effects of the 2012 law," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 339, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    8. Claudia Cantabene & Iacopo Grassi, 2020. "R&D cooperation in SMEs: the direct effect and the moderating role of human capital," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(28), pages 3090-3105, June.
    9. Andrea Bellucci & Ilario Favaretto & Germana Giombini, 2014. "Does Innovation Affect Credit Access? New Empirical Evidence from Italian Small Business Lending," IAW Discussion Papers 104, Institut für Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (IAW).

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