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Does Firm Size make a Difference? Analysing the Effectiveness of R&D Subsidies in East Germany

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  • Björn Alecke
  • Timo Mitze
  • Janina Reinkowski
  • Gerhard Untiedt

Abstract

We analyse the impact of public subsidies on private sector research and development (R&D) activity for a sample of East German firms. Using propensity score matching, our empirical results indicate that subsidized firms indeed show a higher level of R&D intensity (R&D expenditures relative to total turnover) and a higher probability for patent application compared with non-subsidized firms. We find that, on average, the R&D intensity increases from 1.5% to 3.9%. The probability of patent application rises from 20% to 40%. These results closely match earlier empirical findings for East Germany. Given the fact that the East German innovation system is particularly driven by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we draw special attention to the effectiveness of R&D subsidies for this latter subgroup. Here, no specific empirical evidence is available so far. Our findings indicate that policy effectiveness also holds for private R&D activity of SMEs, with the highest increase in terms of R&D intensity being estimated for microbusinesses with up to ten employees.
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  • Björn Alecke & Timo Mitze & Janina Reinkowski & Gerhard Untiedt, 2012. "Does Firm Size make a Difference? Analysing the Effectiveness of R&D Subsidies in East Germany," German Economic Review, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 13(2), pages 174-195, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:germec:v:13:y:2012:i:2:p:174-195
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    1. Pelucha, Martin & Kveton, Viktor & Potluka, Oto, 2019. "Using mixed method approach in measuring effects of training in firms: Case study of the European Social Fund support," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 146-155.
    2. Kiman Kim & Sang Ok Choi & Sooyeon Lee, 2021. "The Effect of a Financial Support on Firm Innovation Collaboration and Output: Does Policy Work on the Diverse Nature of Firm Innovation?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 645-675, June.
    3. Chen Weijun, 2022. "The Impact of Government Support and Technological Innovation on Enterprise Performance: A Case Study of Guangdong Hi- tech Enterprises," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 14(1), pages 196-231.
    4. Brautzsch, Hans-Ulrich & Günther, Jutta & Loose, Brigitte & Ludwig, Udo & Nulsch, Nicole, 2015. "Can R&D subsidies counteract the economic crisis? – Macroeconomic effects in Germany," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 623-633.
    5. Dirk Czarnitzki & Julie Delanote, 2015. "R&D policies for young SMEs: input and output effects," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 465-485, October.
    6. Jun Hong Park & Hyunseog Chung & Ki Hong Kim & Jin Ju Kim & Chulung Lee, 2021. "The Impact of Technological Capability on Financial Performance in the Semiconductor Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    7. Björn Alecke & Timo Mitze & Annekatrin Niebuhr, 2021. "Building a bridge over the valley of death? New pathways for innovation policy in structurally weak regions," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 41(2), pages 185-210, October.
    8. Pengyuan Xu & Meiqing Zhang & Min Gui, 2020. "How R&D Financial Subsidies, Regional R&D Input, and Intellectual Property Protection Affect the Sustainable Patent Output of SMEs: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    9. Cantner, Uwe & Graf, Holger & Herrmann, Johannes & Kalthaus, Martin, 2016. "Inventor networks in renewable energies: The influence of the policy mix in Germany," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(6), pages 1165-1184.
    10. Beom Cheol Cin & Young Jun Kim & Nicholas S. Vonortas, 2017. "The impact of public R&D subsidy on small firm productivity: evidence from Korean SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 345-360, February.
    11. Timo Mitze & Björn Alecke & Janina Reinkowski & Gerhard Untiedt, 2015. "Linking collaborative R&D strategies with the research and innovation performance of SMEs in peripheral regions: Do spatial and organizational choices make a difference?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 55(2), pages 555-596, December.
    12. Jutta Günther & Maria Kristalova & Udo Ludwig, 2019. "Structural stability of the research & development sector in European economies despite the economic crisis," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 29(5), pages 1415-1432, November.
    13. Lewandowska Małgorzata Stefania & Weresa Marzenna Anna & Rószkiewicz Małgorzata, 2022. "Evaluating the impact of public financial support on innovation activities of European Union enterprises: Additionality approach," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 58(3), pages 248-266, September.
    14. Kesen Zhang & Zhen Pan & Mukund Janardhanan & Imran Patel, 2023. "Relationship analysis between greenwashing and environmental performance," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 7927-7957, August.
    15. Thomas H. W. Ziesemer, 2021. "The Effects of R&D Subsidies and Publicly Performed R&D on Business R&D: A Survey," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 236(1), pages 171-205, March.
    16. Kou, Mingting & Yang, Yuanqi & Chen, Kaihua, 2020. "The impact of external R&D financing on innovation process from a supply-demand perspective," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 375-387.
    17. David Aristei & Alessandro Sterlacchini & Francesco Venturini, 2017. "Effectiveness of R&D subsidies during the crisis: firm-level evidence across EU countries," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(6), pages 554-573, August.
    18. Stephen Roper & Helen Xia, 2014. "Innovation, innovation strategy and survival," Research Papers 0017, Enterprise Research Centre.
    19. Dimos, Christos & Pugh, Geoff & Hisarciklilar, Mehtap & Talam, Ema & Jackson, Ian, 2022. "The relative effectiveness of R&D tax credits and R&D subsidies: A comparative meta-regression analysis," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    20. Dragana Radicic & Geoffrey Pugh & Hugo Hollanders & René Wintjes & Jon Fairburn, 2016. "The impact of innovation support programs on small and medium enterprises innovation in traditional manufacturing industries: An evaluation for seven European Union regions," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(8), pages 1425-1452, December.
    21. Weiming Lin & Jianling Chen & Jianbang Gan & Yongwu Dai, 2022. "Do Firms That Are Disadvantaged by Unilateral Climate Policy Receive Compensation? Evidence from China’s Energy-Saving Quota Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    22. Thomas Brenner & Annekatrin Niebuhr, 2021. "Policy options for lagging regions—effects, new approaches and emerging challenges: introduction to the special issue," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 41(2), pages 125-130, October.
    23. Harry Jeong & Kwangsoo Shin & Seunghyun Kim & Eungdo Kim, 2021. "What Types of Government Support on Food SMEs Improve Innovation Performance?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-23, August.
    24. Kai Zhao & Wanshu Wu, 2022. "Innovation of Family-Owned Enterprises and Government Subsidies: From A Policy-Oriented Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-18, October.

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