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Scale effects of R&D as reflected in earnings and returns

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Listed author(s):
  • Ciftci, Mustafa
  • Cready, William M.
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    Abstract

    Using returns to scale as a conceptual foundation, we explore how R&D-related earnings performance and earnings variability depend upon firm size. We find that the positive association between the level of future earnings and R&D intensity increases with firm size, and that the positive association between the volatility of future earnings and R&D intensity decreases with firm size, consistent with R&D productivity increasing with scale. We also show that R&D scale is associated with lower market returns, consistent with the idea that R&D investment risk declines with scale.

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    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165410111000206
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    Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Journal of Accounting and Economics.

    Volume (Year): 52 (2011)
    Issue (Month): 1 (June)
    Pages: 62-80

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    Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:52:y:2011:i:1:p:62-80
    Contact details of provider: Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jae

    Keywords: Returns to scale Research and development Profitability Return size effect;

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    Cited by:

    1. Chan, Konan & Lin, Yueh-hsiang & Wang, Yanzhi, 2015. "The information content of R&D reductions," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 131-155.
    2. Chuluun, Tuugi & Graham, Carol, 2016. "Local happiness and firm behavior: Do firms in happy places invest more?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 41-56.
    3. Gao, Wenlian & Chou, Julia, 2015. "Innovation efficiency, global diversification, and firm value," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 278-298.
    4. Pierluigi Santosuosso, 2016. "What R&D Assets Say about Firm Profitability," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(6), pages 64-71, June.
    5. Moutinho, Ricardo & Au-Yong-Oliveira, Manuel & Coelho, Arnaldo & Manso, José Pires, 2015. "Beyond the “Innovation's Black-Box”: Translating R&D outlays into employment and economic growth," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 45-58.
    6. Sara Amoroso, 2015. "Profits, R&D and labour: Breaking the law of diminishing returns to labour," JRC Working Papers on Corporate R&D and Innovation 2015-10, Joint Research Centre (Seville site).
    7. Mustafa Ciftci & Nan Zhou, 2016. "Capitalizing R&D expenses versus disclosing intangible information," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 661-689, April.

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