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Ownership and cyclicality of firms’ R&D investment

Author

Listed:
  • Pilar Beneito

    (Universidad de Valencia and ERICES)

  • María E. Rochina-Barrachina

    (Universidad de Valencia and ERICES)

  • Amparo Sanchis

    (Universidad de Valencia and ERICES)

Abstract

In this paper we analyse the effect of ownership on the response of firms?’ R&D expenditures to the business cycles in the economy, using a panel dataset of Spanish manufacturing firms for the period 1990-2006. Following Aghion et al. (2012), we allow the impact of the business cycle on firms?' R&D expenditures to depend upon credit constraints, but we extend their analysis by considering the moderating effect of different firms?’ ownership types. We find that firms?’ R&D spending is countercyclical but that credit constraints may reverse this countercyclicality, in line with previous results in the literature. However, our findings indicate that these results are moderated by firms?’ ownership. In particular, in the case of firms that are family owned and firms that are group affiliated the responsiveness of R&D to the business cycle is considerably less dependent on being credit constrained, especially during recessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pilar Beneito & María E. Rochina-Barrachina & Amparo Sanchis, 2013. "Ownership and cyclicality of firms’ R&D investment," Working Papers 1306, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
  • Handle: RePEc:eec:wpaper:1306
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Álvarez, Inmaculada C. & Kao, Chihwa & Romero-Jordán, Desiderio, 2016. "Long run effect of public grants on the R&D investment: A non-stationary panel data approach," Efficiency Series Papers 2016/04, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
    3. Beneito, Pilar & Rochina-Barrachina, María Engracia & Sanchis, Amparo, 2015. "The path of R&D efficiency over time," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 57-69.
    4. Juan A. Máñez & María E. Rochina-Barrachina & Juan A. Sanchis-Llopis & Oscar Vicente, 2013. "Financial constraints and Spanish manufacturing firms’ R&D and exporting," Working Papers 1324, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
    5. Kadri Männasoo & Jaanika Meriküll, 2015. "The impact of firm financing constraints on R&D over the business cycle," Working Papers 348, Leibniz Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung (Institute for East and Southeast European Studies).

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    Keywords

    R&D investment; business cycle; credit constraints; ownership;
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