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

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  • Ciftci, Mustafa
  • Cready, William M.

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ciftci, Mustafa & Cready, William M., 2011. "Scale effects of R&D as reflected in earnings and returns," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 62-80, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:52:y:2011:i:1:p:62-80
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. repec:eee:corfin:v:44:y:2017:i:c:p:193-214 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. repec:eee:jbfina:v:85:y:2017:i:c:p:146-164 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Gao, Wenlian & Chou, Julia, 2015. "Innovation efficiency, global diversification, and firm value," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 278-298.
    6. Mustafa Ciftci & Masako Darrough, 2015. "What Explains the Valuation Difference between Intangible-intensive Profit and Loss Firms?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1-2), pages 138-166, January.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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).
    10. repec:eee:pacfin:v:43:y:2017:i:c:p:1-14 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. 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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