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Financial Constraints: Do They Matter to Allocate R&D Subsidies?

Author

Listed:
  • Silva Filipe

    (OECD, Technology and Industry, 2, rue André Pascal, 75775Paris, Cedex 16, France)

  • Carreira Carlos

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Av. Dr. Dias da Silva, 165, 3004-512Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

We examine whether subsidies are allocated to financially constrained firms and if they effectively alleviate these constraints. We claim that in addition to the usual “public good” arguments behind the allocation of subsidies, the extent to which firms are able to obtain external funding should not be overlooked. Overall, our results question both the allocation and the effectiveness of subsidies in alleviating financial constraints of firms willing to innovate. Additionally, the decision criteria for allocating public funds seem to be similar from those used by the private investors. These results have important implications on the design of future innovation policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Silva Filipe & Carreira Carlos, 2017. "Financial Constraints: Do They Matter to Allocate R&D Subsidies?," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:17:y:2017:i:4:p:26:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2015-0186
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    Cited by:

    1. Qi Li & Jiaojiao Wang & Guohua Cao & Jing Zhang, 2021. "Financial constraints, government subsidies, and corporate innovation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-24, November.
    2. Oleh Kolodiziev & Andrii Gukaliuk & Valeriia Shcherbak & Tetiana Riabovolyk & Ilona Androshchuk & Yaryna Pas, 2024. "The Impact of Refugee Startups on Host Country Economies: Business Models and Economic Adaptation," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 2, pages 175-201.
    3. Santos, Anabela, 2019. "Do selected firms show higher performance? The case of Portugal’s innovation subsidy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 39-50.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    R&D subsidies; financial constraints; R&D investment; R&D policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • L53 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Enterprise Policy
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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