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How to Increase R&D in Transition Economies? Evidence from Slovenia

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  • Polona Domadenik
  • Janez Prasnikar
  • Jan Svejnar

Abstract

The recent initiative of the European Union Lisbon Agenda to increase levels of R&D investment is addressed by studying the determinants of R&D investment in one of the recent EU entrants, Slovenia. Previous empirical literature—mainly cross‐sectional in nature—has tested the demand–pull hypothesis and found that overall R&D expenses may be driven by output demand. We use a panel of more than 150 of the largest Slovene firms over the period 1996–2000, modeling firms' R&D behavior within an error‐correction framework and estimating it in a system GMM specification. While we find that sales have a significant role in inducing R&D expenditures, we also show that the availability of internal funds and wage bargaining represent important factors determining R&D expenses. Moreover, firms owned by insiders (workers and/or managers) and/or firms with dispersed ownership (small shareholders) display higher R&D investments than firms owned by privatization investment funds or by other firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Polona Domadenik & Janez Prasnikar & Jan Svejnar, 2008. "How to Increase R&D in Transition Economies? Evidence from Slovenia," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), pages 193-208, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:12:y:2008:i:1:p:193-208
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9361.2008.00434.x
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    2. Yu, Po-yang & Lai, Ching-chong, 2020. "Optimal Privatization and Economic Growth in a Schumpeterian Economy," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    3. Ying Hao & Jing Lu, 2018. "The Impact of Government Intervention on Corporate Investment Allocations and Efficiency: Evidence from China," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 47(2), pages 383-419, June.
    4. Sajid Anwar & Sizhong Sun, 2014. "Entry of foreign firms and the R&D behaviour: a panel data study of domestic and foreign firms in China's manufacturing sector," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 739-757, November.
    5. Hashi, Iraj & Stojčić, Nebojša, 2013. "The impact of innovation activities on firm performance using a multi-stage model: Evidence from the Community Innovation Survey 4," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 353-366.
    6. Shouming Chen & Kaidi Xu & Luu Thi Nguyen & Guangsheng Yu, 2018. "TMT’s Attention towards Financial Goals and Innovation Investment: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    7. Simona Bovha-Padilla & Joze P. Damijan & Jozef Konings, 2009. "Financial Constraints and the Cyclicality of R&D Investment:Evidence from Slovenia," LICOS Discussion Papers 23909, LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KU Leuven.
    8. Bettina Becker, 2013. "The Determinants of R&D Investment: A Survey of the Empirical Research," Discussion Paper Series 2013_09, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Sep 2013.
    9. 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).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • P2 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies

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