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The impact of R&D subsidy on innovation: evidence from New Zealand firms

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  • Trinh Le
  • Adam B. Jaffe

Abstract

This study examines the impact of government subsidy through R&D grants on innovation output for firms in New Zealand. Using a large database that links administrative and tax data with survey data, we find that R&D grants have a stronger effect on more novel innovation (e.g. applying for a patent or introducing new products to the world) than on incremental innovation (e.g. any product innovation) and that larger, project-based grants are more effective at promoting innovation than smaller, non-project-specific grants. There is little evidence that R&D grants have differential effects between smaller (<50 employees) and larger firms.

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  • Trinh Le & Adam B. Jaffe, 2017. "The impact of R&D subsidy on innovation: evidence from New Zealand firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5), pages 429-452, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:26:y:2017:i:5:p:429-452
    DOI: 10.1080/10438599.2016.1213504
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ma, Yu & Zhang, Tingting & Qian, Wenyu & Wei, Danqi, 2022. "Financial development, demographic changes, and the growth of the non-hydro renewable energy Industry—An empirical test based on R&D and financing costs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 217-229.
    3. Bofinger, Peter & Geißendörfer, Lisa & Haas, Thomas & Mayer, Fabian, 2023. "Credit as an instrument for growth: A monetary explanation of the Chinese growth story," W.E.P. - Würzburg Economic Papers 107, University of Würzburg, Department of Economics.
    4. Haiyan Wang & Yasinjan Sawur, 2022. "The Relationships between Government Subsidies, Innovation Input, and Innovation Output: Evidence from the New Generation of Information Technology Industry in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Ryota Nakatani, 2019. "Firm performance and corporate finance in New Zealand," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(13), pages 1118-1124, July.
    6. Fang, Hongsheng & Wu, Xiao & Shen, Jim Huangnan & Zhao, Lexin, 2022. "The impact of technology identification policy on firm innovation: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    7. Kiman Kim & Sang Ok Choi & Sooyeon Lee, 2021. "The Effect of a Financial Support on Firm Innovation Collaboration and Output: Does Policy Work on the Diverse Nature of Firm Innovation?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 645-675, June.
    8. Benjamin Montmartin & Marcos Herrera & Nadine Massard, 2017. "R&D Policy regimes in France: New Evidence from a spatio-temporal Analysis," GREDEG Working Papers 2017-22, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    9. Nadine Levratto & Aurelien Quignon, 2021. "Innovation Performance and the Signal Effect: Evidence from a European Program," Working Papers halshs-03466903, HAL.
    10. Nathaniel Lane, 2020. "The New Empirics of Industrial Policy," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 209-234, June.
    11. Lee, Jeongwon & Hwang, Junseok & Kim, Hana, 2022. "Different government support effects on emerging and mature ICT sectors," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    12. Shiyuan Liu & Jiang Du & Weike Zhang & Xiaoli Tian, 2021. "Opening the box of subsidies: which is more effective for innovation?," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(3), pages 421-449, September.
    13. Aurélien Quignon & Nadine Levratto, 2021. "Innovation Performance and the Signal Effect: Evidence from a European Program," EconomiX Working Papers 2021-34, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    14. Stjepan Srhoj & Michal Lapinski & Janette Walde, 2021. "Impact evaluation of business development grants on SME performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1285-1301, October.
    15. de Souza, Gustavo, 2022. "The Labor Market Consequences of Appropriate Technology," CEPREMAP Working Papers (Docweb) 2208, CEPREMAP.
    16. Xiao-Bo Zhou & Wei Wei & Chyi-Lu Jang & Chun-Ping Chang, 2019. "The Impacts Of Government R&D Expenditure On Innovation In Chinese Provinces: What’S The Role Of Corruption," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 21(3), pages 409-430, January.
    17. Sui, Bo & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Yao, Liu-Yang & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does aging affect renewable energy? The role of extreme events and economic development," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    18. Gustavo de Souza, 2022. "The Labor Market Consequences of Appropriate Technology," Working Paper Series WP 2022-53, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    19. Wu, Wei & Hu, Yingying & Wu, Qinwen, 2023. "Subsidies and tax incentives - Does it make a difference on TFP? Evidences from China's photovoltaic and wind listed companies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 645-656.
    20. repec:idn:journl:v:21:y:2019:i:3g:p:1-22 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Zhang, Xiekui & Gong, Dayong & Huang, Yihan & Li, Yiting, 2024. "The Government's fiscal and taxation policy effect on enterprise productivity: Policy choice and optimal allocation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 28-41.
    22. Stjepan Srhoj & Michael Lapinski & Janette Walde, 2019. "Size matters? Impact evaluation of business development grants on SME performance," Working Papers 2019-14, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    23. Maoyan She & Die Hu & Yuandi Wang & Li Li, 2023. "How do top management team characteristics affect government R&D subsidy grants? Evidence from an information economics perspective," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 330-353, February.

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