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Do capital incentive policies support today’s digitization needs?

Author

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  • Andres, Raphaela
  • Niebel, Thomas
  • Viete, Steffen

Abstract

Public support schemes are typically targeted towards capital investments. However, the targeting of digitization investments might not only be a missed opportunity to increase the usage of state-of-the-art digital services in the economy, but might even lower the uptake thereof. This paper exploits variation in the eligibility and the size of potential investment subsidies of German firms in order to analyse the relationship with the firms’ propensity to adopt cloud services. Our empirical results are in line with the hypothesis that capital investment schemes lower the use of cloud services by firms: the higher the potential subsidy for investments, the lower the incentive for firms to adopt cloud services. We consider this finding an unintended policy effect which is highly relevant for policy makers, as the adoption of cloud services has been linked to various benefits on the firm as well as on the aggregate economy level.

Suggested Citation

  • Andres, Raphaela & Niebel, Thomas & Viete, Steffen, 2024. "Do capital incentive policies support today’s digitization needs?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:48:y:2024:i:1:s030859612300157x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2023.102646
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Song, Hongti & Chen, Wei, 2025. "A digital blueprint for sustainability: Can digital infrastructure policies promote renewable energy innovation?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D25 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice: Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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