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Estimating Spillovers from Publicly Funded R&D: Evidence from the US Department of Energy

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  • Kyle R. Myers
  • Lauren Lanahan

Abstract

We quantify the magnitude of R&D spillovers created by grants to small firms from the US Department of Energy. Our empirical strategy leverages variation due to state-specific matching policies, and we develop a new approach to measuring both geographic and technological spillovers that does not rely on an observable paper trail. Our estimates suggest that for every patent produced by grant recipients, three more are produced by others who benefit from spillovers. Sixty percent of these spillovers occur within the United States, and many of them occur in technological areas substantially different from those targeted by the grants.

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  • Kyle R. Myers & Lauren Lanahan, 2022. "Estimating Spillovers from Publicly Funded R&D: Evidence from the US Department of Energy," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(7), pages 2393-2423, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:112:y:2022:i:7:p:2393-2423
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20210678
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    2. Anna Stansbury & Dan Turner & Ed Balls, 2023. "Tackling the UK’s regional economic inequality: binding constraints and avenues for policy intervention," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3-4), pages 318-356, August.
    3. Antonin Bergeaud & Arthur Guillouzouic & Emeric Henry & Clement Malgouyres, 2022. "From public labs to private firms: magnitude and channels of R&D spillovers," POID Working Papers 041, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    4. Jordan Bisset & Dirk Czarnitzki & Thorsten Doherr, 2022. "High Skilled Mobility Under Uncertainty," Working Papers of Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven 700195, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven.
    5. Lassi Ahlvik & Inge van den Bijgaart, 2022. "Screening Green Innovation through Carbon Pricing," CESifo Working Paper Series 9931, CESifo.
    6. Ren, Qiuzhen & Albrecht, Johan, 2023. "Toward circular economy: The impact of policy instruments on circular economy innovation for European small medium enterprises," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    7. Becker, Bettina & Roper, Stephen & Vanino, Enrico, 2023. "Assessing innovation spillovers from publicly funded R&D and innovation support: Evidence from the UK," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    8. Jacquelyn Pless, 2022. "To Starve or to Stoke? Understanding Whether Divestment versus Investment Can Steer (Green) Innovation," NBER Chapters, in: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy, volume 2, pages 107-147, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Foreman-Peck, James & Zhou, Peng, 2023. "Specialisation precedes diversification: R&D productivity effects," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    10. Byun, Seong K. & Oh, Jong-Min & Xia, Han, 2023. "R&D tax credits, technology spillovers, and firms' product convergence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    11. Andrew J. Fieldhouse & Karel Mertens, 2023. "The Returns to Government R&D: Evidence from U.S. Appropriations Shocks," Working Papers 2305, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, revised 21 Dec 2023.
    12. Chunyun Wang & Senyu Xing & Lixiao Xu, 2023. "A Multi-Regional Input–Output Model to Measure the Spatial Spillover of R&D Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H81 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Governmental Loans; Loan Guarantees; Credits; Grants; Bailouts
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General

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