IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jjrfmx/v15y2022i11p517-d965167.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Should Firms in Emerging Markets Invest in R&D? Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Dachen Sheng

    (Department of Business and Economics, International Christian University, 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka 181-8585, Tokyo, Japan
    International College of Liberal Arts, Yamanashi Gakuin University, 2-4-5 Sakaori, Kofu 400-8575, Yamanashi, Japan)

  • Heather Montgomery

    (Department of Business and Economics, International Christian University, 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka 181-8585, Tokyo, Japan)

Abstract

Analyzing micro-level firm data from the Chinese manufacturing sector, this study provides compelling evidence that firms in emerging markets that invest in research and development (R&D) for product differentiation significantly increase firm performance as measured by market power, profitability, and earning quality. Privately held (non-state-owned), mid-size, Shenzhen exchange-listed firms experience the largest boost to firm performance when they invest in research and development. However, analyzing the contribution of R&D investment to firm market value, we reveal that while R&D investments are valued by institutional investors, the potential for investment in R&D to boost firm performance is not recognized by individual investors, who dominate Chinese financial markets. This finding suggests that managers may under-invest in R&D if equity compensation comprises a large share of the overall compensation package.

Suggested Citation

  • Dachen Sheng & Heather Montgomery, 2022. "Should Firms in Emerging Markets Invest in R&D? Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Sector," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:15:y:2022:i:11:p:517-:d:965167
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/15/11/517/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/15/11/517/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jeffrey M. Perloff & Steven C. Salop, 1985. "Equilibrium with Product Differentiation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 52(1), pages 107-120.
    2. Robert B. Ekelund, 1970. "Price Discrimination and Product Differentiation in Economic Theory: An Early Analysis," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 84(2), pages 268-278.
    3. 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.
    4. Belderbos, Rene & Carree, Martin & Lokshin, Boris, 2004. "Cooperative R&D and firm performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1477-1492, December.
    5. Franzen, Laurel & Radhakrishnan, Suresh, 2009. "The value relevance of R&D across profit and loss firms," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 16-32.
    6. Belderbos, Rene & Carree, Martin & Lokshin, Boris, 2004. "Cooperative R&D and firm performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1477-1492, December.
    7. Yin, Xiangkang & Zuscovitch, Ehud, 1998. "Is firm size conducive to R&D choice? A strategic analysis of product and process innovations," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 243-262, April.
    8. Ng, Lilian & Wu, Fei, 2007. "The trading behavior of institutions and individuals in Chinese equity markets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 2695-2710, September.
    9. Rhoades, Stephen A., 1985. "Market share as a source of market power: Implications and some evidence," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 343-363, December.
    10. Gu, Lifeng, 2016. "Product market competition, R&D investment, and stock returns," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(2), pages 441-455.
    11. Tsai, Kuen-Hung & Wang, Jiann-Chyuan, 2005. "Does R&D performance decline with firm size?--A re-examination in terms of elasticity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 966-976, August.
    12. Johan Hombert & Adrien Matray, 2018. "Can Innovation Help U.S. Manufacturing Firms Escape Import Competition from China?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 73(5), pages 2003-2039, October.
    13. Allan C. Eberhart & William F. Maxwell & Akhtar R. Siddique, 2004. "An Examination of Long-Term Abnormal Stock Returns and Operating Performance Following R&D Increases," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 59(2), pages 623-650, April.
    14. Lin, Ping & Saggi, Kamal, 2002. "Product differentiation, process R&D, and the nature of market competition," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 201-211, January.
    15. David Aboody & Baruch Lev, 2000. "Information Asymmetry, R&D, and Insider Gains," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 55(6), pages 2747-2766, December.
    16. Benjamin E. Hermalin & Michael L. Katz, 2013. "Product Differentiation through Exclusivity: Is there a One‐Market‐Power‐Rent Theorem?," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 1-27, March.
    17. Lilian Ng & Fei Wu, 2010. "Peer Effects in the Trading Decisions of Individual Investors," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 39(2), pages 807-831, June.
    18. Cellini, Roberto & Lambertini, Luca, 2002. "A differential game approach to investment in product differentiation," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 51-62, November.
    19. Porter, Michael E, 1979. "The Structure within Industries and Companies' Performance," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 61(2), pages 214-227, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Alam, Ashraful & Uddin, Moshfique & Yazdifar, Hassan & Shafique, Sujana & Lartey, Theophilus, 2020. "R&D investment, firm performance and moderating role of system and safeguard: Evidence from emerging markets," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 94-105.
    2. Chan, Konan & Lin, Yueh-Hsiang & Wang, Yanzhi, 2017. "Limits-to-arbitrage, investment frictions, and innovation anomalies," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1-14.
    3. Chen, Li-Yu & Lai, Jung-Ho & Chang, Shao-Chi, 2017. "The long-term performance of new product introductions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 162-169.
    4. Martha Torres-Barreto & Marianela Luzardo Briceño & Mileidy Alvarez-Melgarejo, 2018. "The R&D funding scenario: Can capabilities foster product innovation of firms? El escenario de financiación de I + D: ¿pueden las capacidades fomentar la innovación de productos de las empresas? [E," Working Papers hal-01867121, HAL.
    5. Hussinger, Katrin & Pacher, Sebastian, 2019. "Information ambiguity, patents and the market value of innovative assets," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 665-675.
    6. 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.
    7. Huang, Dan & Liu, Baohua & Chan, Kam C. & Chen, Yining, 2023. "Intended and unintended effects of mandatory R&D disclosure on innovation outcomes," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    8. Insung Son & Sihyun Kim, 2018. "Does Partner Volatility Have Firm Value Relevance? An Empirical Analysis of Part Suppliers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Chiu, Junmao & Chen, Chin-Ho & Cheng, Chung-Chieh & Hung, Shih-Chang, 2021. "Knowledge capital, CEO power, and firm value: Evidence from the IT industry," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    10. Hyuk Chung, 2021. "Adoption and Development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology: Features and Determinants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    11. Min, Jae-Woong & Kim, YoungJun & Vonortas, Nicholas S., 2020. "Public technology transfer, commercialization and business growth," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    12. Konan Chan & Mei‐Xuan Li & Chu‐Bin Lin & Yanzhi Wang, 2022. "Organization capital effect in stock returns—The role of R&D," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(7-8), pages 1237-1263, July.
    13. Forero, Clemente & Corredor, Sandra & Forero, Nohora, 2010. "Business Networks and Innovation in SMEs of a Developing Country," Galeras. Working Papers Series 027, Universidad de Los Andes. Facultad de Administración. School of Management.
    14. Kibaek Lee & Jaeheung Yoo & Munkee Choi & Hangjung Zo & Andrew P Ciganek, 2016. "Does External Knowledge Sourcing Enhance Market Performance? Evidence from the Korean Manufacturing Industry," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Wang, Peipei & Wen, Yuanji & Singh, Harminder, 2017. "The high-volume return premium: Does it exist in the Chinese stock market?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB), pages 323-336.
    16. Vitaliy Roud & Thomas Wolfgang Thurner, 2018. "The Influence of State‐Ownership on Eco‐Innovations in Russian Manufacturing Firms," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(5), pages 1213-1227, October.
    17. Agustí Segarra, 2011. "R&D cooperation between Spanish firms and scientific partners: what is the role of tertiary education?," Working Papers XREAP2011-17, Xarxa de Referència en Economia Aplicada (XREAP), revised Nov 2011.
    18. Richard Harris & John Moffat, 2011. "R&D, Innovation and Exporting," SERC Discussion Papers 0073, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    19. Isaksson, Olov H.D. & Simeth, Markus & Seifert, Ralf W., 2016. "Knowledge spillovers in the supply chain: Evidence from the high tech sectors," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 699-706.
    20. Zhang, Wei, 2015. "R&D investment and distress risk," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 94-114.

    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:gam:jjrfmx:v:15:y:2022:i:11:p:517-:d:965167. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.