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Beggar thy neighbor? the in-state vs. out-of-state impact of state R&D tax credits

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Author Info
Daniel J. Wilson

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Abstract

In this paper, I exploit the cross-sectional and time-series variation in R&D tax credits, and in turn the user cost of R&D, available from U.S. states between 1981-2002 to estimate the elasticity of private R&D with respect to both the within-state (internal) user cost and the out-of-state (external) user cost. To facilitate comparisons to previous studies of the R&D cost elasticity, I first estimate an R&D cost elasticity omitting external R&D costs; the estimated elasticity is negative, above unity (in absolute value), and statistically significant—a finding quite similar to that found by previous studies based on alternative data. Unlike previous studies, however, I then add the external R&D user cost to the regressions. I find the external-cost elasticity is positive and significant, raising concerns about whether having state-level R&D tax credits on top of federal credits is socially desirable. More importantly, I find the aggregate R&D price elasticity—the difference between the internal- and external-cost elasticities—is far smaller than previously estimated. In fact, the preferred specification yields a zero aggregate elasticity, suggesting a zero-sum game among states and raising questions about the efficacy of R&D tax credits more broadly.

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Paper provided by Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in its series Working Paper Series with number 2005-08.

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Date of creation: 2005
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Handle: RePEc:fip:fedfwp:2005-08

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Keywords: Tax credits Taxation Research and development

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  3. Swenson, C. W., 1992. "Some tests of the incentive effects of the research and experimentation tax credit," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 203-218, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. hUallachain, Breandan O & Satterthwaite, Mark A., 1992. "Sectoral growth patterns at the metropolitan level: An evaluation of economic development incentives," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 25-58, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Lolita Paff, 2005. "State-Level R&D Tax Credits: A Firm-Level Analysis," Topics in Economic Analysis & Policy, Berkeley Electronic Press, vol. 5(1), pages 1272-1272. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  7. Jaffe, Adam B & Trajtenberg, Manuel & Henderson, Rebecca, 1993. "Geographic Localization of Knowledge Spillovers as Evidenced by Patent Citations," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 108(3), pages 577-98, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  8. Bronwyn Hall & Fumio Hayashi, 1989. "Research and Development As An Investment," NBER Working Papers 2973, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  9. Daniel Wilson, 2005. "Are state R&D tax credits constitutional? an economic perspective," FRBSF Economic Letter, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, issue Jun 3. [Downloadable!]
  10. Hall, Bronwyn H & Griliches, Zvi & Hausman, Jerry A, 1986. "Patents and R and D: Is There a Lag?," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 27(2), pages 265-83, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  15. Jason G. Cummins & Kevin A. Hassett & R. Glenn Hubbard, 1995. "A Reconsideration of Investment Behavior Using Tax Reforms as Natural Experiments," NBER Reprints 1946, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  16. Jones, Charles I & Williams, John C, 2000. " Too Much of a Good Thing? The Economics of Investment in R&D," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 65-85, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  17. Newman, Robert J. & Sullivan, Dennis H., 1988. "Econometric analysis of business tax impacts on industrial location: What do we know, and how do we know it?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 215-234, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  18. Mamuneas, Theofanis P. & Ishaq Nadiri, M., 1996. "Public R&D policies and cost behavior of the US manufacturing industries," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 57-81, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  19. Ashenfelter, Orley C, 1978. "Estimating the Effect of Training Programs on Earnings," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 60(1), pages 47-57, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  20. McCutchen, William Jr., 1993. "Estimating the impact of the R&D tax credit on strategic groups in the pharmaceutical industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 337-351, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Diego Comin & Sunil Mulani, 2007. "A theory of growth and volatility at the aggregate and firm level," Proceedings, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, issue Nov. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Daniel Wilson, 2005. "Are state R&D tax credits constitutional? an economic perspective," FRBSF Economic Letter, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, issue Jun 3. [Downloadable!]
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