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Innovation and firm growth over the business cycle

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  • Andrin Spescha
  • Martin Woerter

Abstract

This paper investigates how the macroeconomic business cycle impacts the empirical relation between innovation and firm growth. Based on representative panel data of Swiss firms ranging from 1996 to 2014, the paper finds that firms with innovations based on R&D activities show higher sales growth rates than non-innovative firms in periods dominated by economic recessions. This finding is in line with the idea that recessions play an important role in the adaptation process of the economy towards the innovative. In contrast, the paper finds that firms with innovations based on other, non-R&D innovation activities show higher sales growth rates than non-innovative firms in periods dominated by economic booms. Hence, while firms with innovations based on R&D activities are more resilient to business cycle fluctuations than non-innovative firms, firms with innovations based on other, non-R&D innovations activities are more sensitive to business cycle fluctuations than non-innovative firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrin Spescha & Martin Woerter, 2019. "Innovation and firm growth over the business cycle," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(3), pages 321-347, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:indinn:v:26:y:2019:i:3:p:321-347
    DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2018.1431523
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    Cited by:

    1. Gómez, Jaime & Krammer, Sorin M.S. & Pérez-Aradros, Beatriz & Salazar, Idana, 2024. "Resilience to the pandemic: The role of female management, multi-unit structure, and business model innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    2. Karakoç, Bahadır, 2025. "Credit where it's due: The synergy of trade credit and innovation in R&D-driven firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    3. Nathan, Max & Rosso, Anna, 2022. "Innovative events: product launches, innovation and firm performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(1).
    4. repec:osf:socarx:t3jrq_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Thompson, Mark James & Woerter, Martin, 2020. "Competition and invention quality: Evidence from Swiss firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Sufia Mohand-Amar & María del Mar Fuentes-Fuentes & Matilde Ruiz-Arroyo, 2024. "The relationship between high growth expectations and new venture creation in nascent entrepreneurs: The key role of competitive innovation," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 2323-2345, September.
    7. Arkadiusz Świadek & Jadwiga Gorączkowska & Karolina Godzisz, 2022. "Conditions Driving Eco-Innovation in a Catching-Up Country—ICT vs. Industry in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, July.
    8. Thomas Bolli & Filippo Pusterla, 2023. "Complementarities among types of education in affecting firms' productivity," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 37(4), pages 554-591, December.
    9. Chei Bukari & Emm anuel Atta Anaman, 2021. "Corruption and firm innovation: a grease or sand in the wheels of commerce? Evidence from lower-middle and upper-middle income economies," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(2), pages 267-302, June.
    10. Xiangde Kong & Hongan Chen & Peng Wu & Ran Ma & Fei Pan, 2024. "Impact of R&D innovation and political background on corporate growth: A study based on private listed companies in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-25, May.
    11. Max Nathan & Anna Rosso, 2017. "Innovative events," Development Working Papers 429, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano, revised 08 Apr 2019.
    12. Qu, Yingge & Kumar, V. & Zhao, Yi, 2023. "A dynamic model of the contract length and early termination: The roles of technology evolution and pricing strategy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    13. Ying Chen & Yabin Zhang, 2023. "Services Development, Technological Innovation, and the Embedded Location of the Agricultural Global Value Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, February.
    14. Hang, Leiming & Lu, Wei & Ge, Xiaowei & Ye, Bin & Zhao, Zhiqi & Cheng, Fangfang, 2024. "R&D innovation, industrial evolution and the labor skill structure in China manufacturing," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    15. Rodríguez-Gulías, María Jesús & Fernández-López, Sara & Rodeiro-Pazos, David, 2024. "Foreign knowledge sources and innovation: Differences across large and small and medium-size multinational enterprises (MNEs)," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 741-757.
    16. Skare, Marinko & Gavurova, Beata & Rigelsky, Martin, 2023. "Innovation activity and the outcomes of B2C, B2B, and B2G E-Commerce in EU countries," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    17. Ganotakis, Panagiotis & Angelidou, Sofia & Saridakis, Charalampos & Piperopoulos, Panagiotis & Dindial, Miguel, 2023. "Innovation, digital technologies, and sales growth during exogenous shocks," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    18. 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).

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