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Do R&D Credits Work? Evidence From A Panel Of Countries 1979-97

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  • Van Reenen, John
  • Griffith, Rachel
  • Bloom, Nicholas

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of fiscal incentives on the level of R&D investment. An econometric model of R&D investment is estimated using a new panel of data on tax changes and R&D spending in nine OECD countries over a nineteen-year period (1979-1996). We find evidence that tax incentives are effective in increasing R&D intensity. This is true even after allowing for permanent country specific characteristics, world macro shocks and other policy influences. We estimate that a 10% fall in the cost of R&D stimulates a 1% rise in the level of R&D in the short-run; R&D increases by just under 10% in the long-run. Additionally there is some evidence that changes in R&D tax credits affect decisions over the international location of R&D as suggested by models of tax competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Van Reenen, John & Griffith, Rachel & Bloom, Nicholas, 2000. "Do R&D Credits Work? Evidence From A Panel Of Countries 1979-97," CEPR Discussion Papers 2415, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:2415
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mohnen, Pierre & Lokshin, Boris, 2009. "What does it take for an R&D tax incentive policy to be effective?," MERIT Working Papers 014, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    3. KASAHARA Hiroyuki & SHIMOTSU Katsumi & SUZUKI Michio, 2011. "How Much Do R&D Tax Credits Affect R&D Expenditures? Japanese tax credit reform in 2003," Discussion papers 11072, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    4. Sabine Visser, 2007. "R&D in Worldscan," CPB Memorandum 189.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    5. Erik Canton & Bert Minne & Ate Nieuwenhuis & Bert Smid & Marc van der Steeg, 2005. "Human capital, R&D, and competition in macroeconomic analysis," CPB Document 91.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    6. Mohnen, Pierre & Lokshin, Boris, 2009. "What does it take for an R&D tax incentive policy to be effective?," MERIT Working Papers 2009-014, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    7. Yonghong Wu, 2008. "State R&D Tax Credits and High-Technology Establishments," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 22(2), pages 136-148, May.
    8. Jean Belin & Marianne Guille, 2008. "R&D et innovation en France : quel financement pour les entreprises de la Défense ?," Innovations, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(2), pages 33-59.
    9. Yonghong Wu & D. Popp & S. Bretschneider, 2007. "The Effects Of Innovation Policies On Business R&D: A Cross-National Empirical Study," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(4), pages 237-253.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Panel data; R&d; Tax competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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