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Investment in research and development and export performances of Canadian small and medium‐sized agri‐food firms

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  • Lota D. Tamini
  • Aristide B. Valéa

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of research and development (R&D) investment on the export performance of Canadian agrifood small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and on that of related sectors, namely, the textile and clothing sector and the manufacture of leather goods and similar products. First, we analyzed explanatory factors for R&D expenses, and then, we analyzed the impact of R&D on extensive (market access) and intensive (trade value) margins of trade using a difference‐in‐differences approach. We used data obtained from the Statistics Canada's National Accounts Longitudinal Microdata File (NALMF) for 2010–2015 and the Trade by Exporter Characteristics (TEC) database. The size of firms and their support from the Canadian government affect their propensity to invest in R&D and the amount of R&D expenses and their intensity, measured as the ratio of R&D to sales of goods and services. Overall, our results show that investment in R&D has a positive impact on the export performance of agrifood SMEs; the impact is smaller when the destination is one of the states in the United States. La présente recherche a pour objectif d'analyser l'impact des investissements en recherche et développement (R&D) sur les performances à l'exportation des entreprises agroalimentaires canadiennes et de celles de secteurs connexes soit les industries du textile et des vêtements et de la fabrication de produits du cuir et produits analogues. Les méthodes d’évaluation d'impact seront utilisées pour analyser les effets des activités d'innovation des entreprises sur leurs performances à l'exportation. Dans un premier temps, les facteurs explicatifs des investissements en R&D sont analysé. Puis nous analysons les effets des investissements en R&D sur les marges extensive (accès aux marchés) et intensive (valeur du commerce). Nous utilisons le Fichier de micro données longitudinales des comptes nationaux (NALMF) de Statistique Canada pour la période de 2010 à 2015 qui est couplé au fichier du programme de Commerce selon les caractéristiques des exportateurs (TEC). La taille des entreprises et l'appui du gouvernement canadien sont déterminants dans la probabilité d'investir dans la R&D ainsi que le montant de ces investissements et son intensité mesurée par le ratio du montant investit sur les ventes totales de biens et services des PME agroalimentaires.

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  • Lota D. Tamini & Aristide B. Valéa, 2021. "Investment in research and development and export performances of Canadian small and medium‐sized agri‐food firms," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 69(3), pages 311-336, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:canjag:v:69:y:2021:i:3:p:311-336
    DOI: 10.1111/cjag.12296
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