IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/pacfin/v80y2023ics0927538x23001476.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital economy, financing constraints, and corporate innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Quan
  • Chen, Huimin
  • Chen, Yang
  • Xiao, Tong
  • Wang, Li

Abstract

We build a multi-sector Schumpeterian endogenous growth model that incorporates data as a factor of production, and explore the changes in corporate financing constraints brought about by the digital economy and its impact on corporate innovation. Next, we use data on 3328 A-share listed firms in China for the period from 2011 to 2021 to empirically test our model. The results show that the impact of the digital economy on corporate innovation is positive and significant. After multiple rounds of robustness tests and resolution of endogeneity problems, our conclusion holds. In addition, we find that financial constraints act as a transmission mechanism through which the digital economy promotes corporate innovation. After categorizing patents into invention and non-invention patents, we find that the role of the digital economy is more (less) obvious in promoting radical (incremental) innovation. In addition, the role of the digital economy in promoting innovation is stronger for large enterprises than for small and micro enterprises. In summary, from the perspective of financing constraints, this paper studies the impact of the digital economy on corporate innovation using the endogenous growth model and providing empirical evidence. The results are of great significance to attempt to improve independent innovation capability and achieve high-quality economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Quan & Chen, Huimin & Chen, Yang & Xiao, Tong & Wang, Li, 2023. "Digital economy, financing constraints, and corporate innovation," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:80:y:2023:i:c:s0927538x23001476
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2023.102081
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927538X23001476
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.pacfin.2023.102081?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mingtao Yu & Aiguo Yan, 2022. "Can Digital Finance Accelerate the Digital Transformation of Companies? From the Perspective of M&A," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Mikalef, Patrick & Pateli, Adamantia, 2017. "Information technology-enabled dynamic capabilities and their indirect effect on competitive performance: Findings from PLS-SEM and fsQCA," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-16.
    3. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    4. Tao Kong & RenJi Sun & Guanglin Sun & Youtao Song, 2022. "Effects of Digital Finance on Green Innovation considering Information Asymmetry: An Empirical Study Based on Chinese Listed Firms," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(15), pages 4399-4411, December.
    5. Charles I. Jones & Christopher Tonetti, 2020. "Nonrivalry and the Economics of Data," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(9), pages 2819-2858, September.
    6. Stewart C. Myers & Nicholas S. Majluf, 1984. "Corporate Financing and Investment Decisions When Firms Have InformationThat Investors Do Not Have," NBER Working Papers 1396, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Cong, Lin William & Wei, Wenshi & Xie, Danxia & Zhang, Longtian, 2022. "Endogenous growth under multiple uses of data," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    8. Bing Cao & Zishu Han & Ling Liang & Yuanyuan Liu & Jialiang Wang & Jiaping Xie, 2022. "Independent Innovation or Secondary Innovation: The Moderating of Network Embedded Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Nathan Nunn & Nancy Qian, 2014. "US Food Aid and Civil Conflict," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(6), pages 1630-1666, June.
    10. Romer, Paul M, 1990. "Endogenous Technological Change," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages 71-102, October.
    11. Timothy F. Bresnahan & Erik Brynjolfsson & Lorin M. Hitt, 2002. "Information Technology, Workplace Organization, and the Demand for Skilled Labor: Firm-Level Evidence," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 117(1), pages 339-376.
    12. Cornaggia, Jess & Mao, Yifei & Tian, Xuan & Wolfe, Brian, 2015. "Does banking competition affect innovation?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 189-209.
    13. Brown, James R. & Martinsson, Gustav & Petersen, Bruce C., 2012. "Do financing constraints matter for R&D?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(8), pages 1512-1529.
    14. Petra Moser & Alessandra Voena, 2012. "Compulsory Licensing: Evidence from the Trading with the Enemy Act," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(1), pages 396-427, February.
    15. Lei Zhang & Wen-Tsao Pan, 2022. "Bank Competition, Financing Constraints, and Enterprise Innovation Investment," Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, Hindawi, vol. 2022, pages 1-9, August.
    16. Lin William Cong & Danxia Xie & Longtian Zhang, 2021. "Knowledge Accumulation, Privacy, and Growth in a Data Economy," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(10), pages 6480-6492, October.
    17. Manita, Riadh & Elommal, Najoua & Baudier, Patricia & Hikkerova, Lubica, 2020. "The digital transformation of external audit and its impact on corporate governance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    18. Chris Forman & Nicolas van Zeebroeck, 2012. "From Wires to Partners: How the Internet Has Fostered R&D Collaborations Within Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 58(8), pages 1549-1568, August.
    19. Brown, James R. & Petersen, Bruce C., 2011. "Cash holdings and R&D smoothing," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 694-709, June.
    20. Zhao, Meiyu & Zhang, Bo, 2023. "Credit corruption, financial constraint and corporate innovation: Evidence on China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    21. Hsu, Po-Hsuan & Tian, Xuan & Xu, Yan, 2014. "Financial development and innovation: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(1), pages 116-135.
    22. James R. Brown & Steven M. Fazzari & Bruce C. Petersen, 2009. "Financing Innovation and Growth: Cash Flow, External Equity, and the 1990s R&D Boom," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 64(1), pages 151-185, February.
    23. Steven N. Kaplan & Luigi Zingales, 1997. "Do Investment-Cash Flow Sensitivities Provide Useful Measures of Financing Constraints?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 112(1), pages 169-215.
    24. Pan, Jiadong & Lin, Gaobang & Xiao, Wen, 2022. "The heterogeneity of innovation, government R&D support and enterprise innovation performance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Ruchuan & Gao, Weiyan & Chen, Shanshan & Zhou, Li & Li, Aijun, 2024. "Dose digital transformation contribute to improving financing efficiency? Evidence and implications for energy enterprises in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    2. Dong Guo & Lin Li & Lu Qiao & Fengyu Qi, 2023. "Digital economy and consumption upgrading: scale effect or structure effect?," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4713-4744, December.
    3. Lin, Boqiang & Xu, Chongchong, 2024. "Enhancing energy-environmental performance through industrial intelligence: Insights from Chinese prefectural-level cities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    4. Lu, Yiming & Wang, Yu, 2024. "Firms and banks common ownership, economic policy uncertainty, and firms’ R&D investment: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Yunfu Zhu & Haoling Yang & Ma Zhong, 2023. "Do ESG Ratings of Chinese Firms Converge or Diverge? A Comparative Analysis Based on Multiple Domestic and International Ratings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Theodoros Daglis & Konstantinos N. Konstantakis & Panos Xidonas & Panayotis G. Michaelides & Areistidis Samitas, 2024. "Solar Weather Dynamics and the US Economy: A Comprehensive GVAR Perspective," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 955-977, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giebel, Marek & Kraft, Kornelius, 2020. "R&D investment under financing constraints," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-018, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Brown, James R. & Martinsson, Gustav & Petersen, Bruce C., 2012. "Do financing constraints matter for R&D?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(8), pages 1512-1529.
    3. Muhammad Kaleem Khan & Ahmad Kaleem & Salman Zulfiqar & Umair Akram, 2019. "Innovation Investment: Behaviour Of Chinese Firms Towards Financing Sources," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(07), pages 1-29, October.
    4. Lily Nguyen & Le Vu & Xiangkang Yin, 2021. "Share repurchases and firm innovation," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(S1), pages 1665-1695, April.
    5. Zhang, Ping & Wang, Yiru & Gao, Jieying, 2023. "Going public and innovation: Evidence from the ChiNext stock market," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 586-613.
    6. Francesco Aiello & Graziella Bonanno & Stefania Patrizia Sonia Rossi, 2019. "Risk Aversion And Entrepreneurship: Financing Innovation For Smes Across Europe. Evidence From Multilevel Models," Working Papers 201902, Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Economia, Statistica e Finanza "Giovanni Anania" - DESF.
    7. Joel Stiebale & Nicole Wößner, 2020. "M&As, Investment and Financing Constraints," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1), pages 49-92, January.
    8. Borisova, Ginka & Brown, James R., 2013. "R&D sensitivity to asset sale proceeds: New evidence on financing constraints and intangible investment," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 159-173.
    9. Sasidharan, Subash & Jijo Lukose, P.J. & Komera, Surenderrao, 2015. "Financing constraints and investments in R&D: Evidence from Indian manufacturing firms," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 28-39.
    10. Liu, Shasha & Ji, Mianmian & Wang, Huijuan, 2021. "Decentralization and firm innovation: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 501-512.
    11. Z. Jun Lin & Shengqiang Liu & Fangcheng Sun, 2017. "The Impact of Financing Constraints and Agency Costs on Corporate R&D Investment: Evidence from China," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 17(1), pages 3-42, March.
    12. Hanna Hottenrott & Bronwyn H. Hall & Dirk Czarnitzki, 2016. "Patents as quality signals? The implications for financing constraints on R&D," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(3), pages 197-217, April.
    13. Yang, Bao & Chou, Hsin-I. & Zhao, Jing, 2020. "Innovation or dividend payout: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 180-203.
    14. Chen, Minjia & Guariglia, Alessandra, 2013. "Internal financial constraints and firm productivity in China: Do liquidity and export behavior make a difference?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 1123-1140.
    15. Levine, Oliver & Warusawitharana, Missaka, 2021. "Finance and productivity growth: Firm-level evidence," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 91-107.
    16. Söhnke M. Bartram, 2017. "Corporate Postretirement Benefit Plans and Real Investment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(2), pages 355-383, February.
    17. Lee, Jiyoon, 2022. "Do firms use credit lines to support investment opportunities?: Evidence from success in R&D," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 1-14.
    18. Zeynep Kabukcuoglu, 2019. "The cyclical behavior of R&D investment during the Great Recession," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 301-323, January.
    19. Brown, James R. & Floros, Ioannis V., 2012. "Access to private equity and real firm activity: Evidence from PIPEs," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 151-165.
    20. Cheng-Ben Wang & Jie-Ru Rong & Jia-Ming Zhu, 2023. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Algorithm research on the influence of financing structure and cash holding on enterprise innovation based on system GMM model function theory," Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 1-28, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:80:y:2023:i:c:s0927538x23001476. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/pacfin .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.