IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/mgtdec/v44y2023i8p4350-4362.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does digital transformation promote the volatility of firms' innovation investment?

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Zhang
  • Rende Li
  • Qiaoxin Xie

Abstract

With the advent of the digital age, digital transformation has become an important way for enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. Using a large sample of Chinese A‐share listed companies from 2008 to 2019, we explore the impact of digital transformation on firms' innovation investment volatility. The research conclusions include the following aspects: (1) There is a positive correlation between digital transformation and innovation investment volatility. Mechanism analysis digital transformation promotes the volatility of firms' innovation investment by alleviating financing constraints and enhancing the ability to identify and seize innovation opportunities. (2) The positive correlation between digital transformation and the volatility of firms' innovation investment is more obvious in large‐sized enterprises and non‐high‐tech industrial enterprises. (3) Digital transformation reinforces the positive correlation between the volatility of firms' innovation investment and firms' patent applications for invention. This research expands the relevant research on the micro‐consequences of digital transformation and innovation strategy from a dynamic perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Zhang & Rende Li & Qiaoxin Xie, 2023. "Does digital transformation promote the volatility of firms' innovation investment?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(8), pages 4350-4362, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:44:y:2023:i:8:p:4350-4362
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.3951
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3951
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/mde.3951?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chen, Chen & Chen, Yangyang & Hsu, Po-Hsuan & Podolski, Edward J., 2016. "Be nice to your innovators: Employee treatment and corporate innovation performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 78-98.
    2. Peter Gal & Giuseppe Nicoletti & Theodore Renault & Stéphane Sorbe & Christina Timiliotis, 2019. "Digitalisation and productivity: In search of the holy grail – Firm-level empirical evidence from EU countries," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1533, OECD Publishing.
    3. Pereira, Vijay & Bamel, Umesh, 2021. "Extending the resource and knowledge based view: A critical analysis into its theoretical evolution and future research directions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 557-570.
    4. Jiatao Li & Liang Chen & Jingtao Yi & Jiye Mao & Jianwen Liao, 2019. "Ecosystem-specific advantages in international digital commerce," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1448-1463, December.
    5. Peter Gal & Giuseppe Nicoletti & Christina von Rüden & Stéphane Sorbe & Théodore Renault, 2019. "Digitalization and Productivity: In Search of the Holy Grail - Firm-level Empirical Evidence from European Countries," International Productivity Monitor, Centre for the Study of Living Standards, vol. 37, pages 39-71, Fall.
    6. Nambisan, Satish & Wright, Mike & Feldman, Maryann, 2019. "The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: Progress, challenges and key themes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    7. Bouwman, Harry & Nikou, Shahrokh & de Reuver, Mark, 2019. "Digitalization, business models, and SMEs: How do business model innovation practices improve performance of digitalizing SMEs?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(9).
    8. Kang, Taewon & Baek, Chulwoo & Lee, Jeong-Dong, 2017. "The persistency and volatility of the firm R&D investment: Revisited from the perspective of technological capability," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9), pages 1570-1579.
    9. Fernandes, Kiran Jude & Milewski, Simon & Chaudhuri, Atanu & Xiong, Yu, 2022. "Contextualising the role of external partnerships to innovate the core and enabling processes of an organisation: A resource and knowledge-based view," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 146-162.
    10. Ferreira, João J.M. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Ferreira, Fernando A.F., 2019. "To be or not to be digital, that is the question: Firm innovation and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 583-590.
    11. 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.
    12. Usai, A. & Fiano, F. & Messeni Petruzzelli, A. & Paoloni, P. & Farina Briamonte, M. & Orlando, B., 2021. "Unveiling the impact of the adoption of digital technologies on firms’ innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 327-336.
    13. Amore, Mario Daniele & Schneider, Cédric & Žaldokas, Alminas, 2013. "Credit supply and corporate innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(3), pages 835-855.
    14. Yu, Chin-Hsien & Wu, Xiuqin & Zhang, Dayong & Chen, Shi & Zhao, Jinsong, 2021. "Demand for green finance: Resolving financing constraints on green innovation in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    15. Liu, Jinyu & Wang, Zhengwei & Zhu, Wuxiang, 2021. "Does privatization reform alleviate ownership discrimination? Evidence from the Split-share structure reform in China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    16. Brown, James R. & Petersen, Bruce C., 2015. "Which investments do firms protect? Liquidity management and real adjustments when access to finance falls sharply," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 441-465.
    17. Patel, Pankaj C. & Guedes, Maria João & Soares, Nuno & da Conceição Gonçalves, Vítor, 2018. "Strength of the association between R&D volatility and firm growth: The roles of corporate governance and tangible asset volatility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 282-288.
    18. Liu, Yunxiao & Kim, Woochan & Sung, Taeyoon, 2021. "Investment efficiency of firms outside the business group," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    19. 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.
    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. Feng Wang & Shaoxin Shen, 2024. "Does the digital economy development improve or exacerbate income inequality? International evidence," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(6), pages 4012-4038, September.

    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. Liu, Duan & Li, Zhiyuan & He, Hongbo & Hou, Wenxuan, 2021. "The determinants of R&D smoothing with asset sales: Evidence from R&D-intensive firms in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 76-93.
    2. Machokoto, Michael & Areneke, Geofry, 2020. "Does innovation and financial constraints affect the propensity to save in emerging markets?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Giau Bui, Dien & Chen, Yehning & Lin, Chih-Yung & Lin, Tse-Chun, 2021. "Risk-taking of bank CEOs and corporate innovation," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    5. Do, Trung K., 2024. "Asset redeployability and green innovation," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    6. Zeynep Kabukcuoglu, 2019. "The cyclical behavior of R&D investment during the Great Recession," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 301-323, January.
    7. Aysun, Uluc & Kabukcuoglu, Zeynep, 2019. "Interest rates, R&D investment and the distortionary effects of R&D incentives," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 191-210.
    8. Abdin, Joynal & Sharma, Abhijit & Trivedi, Rohit & Wang, Chengang, 2024. "Financing constraints, intellectual property rights protection and incremental innovation: Evidence from transition economy firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    9. Huang, Yi-Hou & Liang, Woan-lih & Truong, Quang-Thai & Wang, Yanzhi, 2022. "No new tricks for old dogs? Old directors and innovation performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    10. Segol, Matthieu & Kolev, Atanas & Maurin, Laurent, 2021. "The impact of bank loan terms on intangible investment in Europe," EIB Working Papers 2021/05, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    11. Rong, Zhao & Leng, Fei & Ma, Jun & Ni, Jinlan, 2024. "Real estate depreciation and cash policy for innovative firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    12. Guo, Chenhao & Ke, Yun & Zhang, Jinkang, 2023. "Digital transformation along the supply chain," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    13. Jan Philip Schain & Joel Stiebale, 2021. "Innovation, institutional ownership and financial constraints," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 1689-1697, September.
    14. Lin, Boqiang & Wu, Nan, 2022. "Will the China's carbon emissions market increase the risk-taking of its enterprises?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 413-434.
    15. Wei, Yu & Nan, Haoxi & Wei, Guiwu, 2020. "The impact of employee welfare on innovation performance: Evidence from China's manufacturing corporations," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    16. Wang, Qian & Du, Zhuo-Ya, 2022. "Changing the impact of banking concentration on corporate innovation: The moderating effect of digital transformation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    17. Ke Mao & Junxin Huang, 2022. "How Does Climate Policy Uncertainty Affect Green Innovation? Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-14, November.
    18. Yang (Eric) Zhou & Jingjun (David) Xu & Zhiying Liu, 2024. "The impact of digital transformation on corporate innovation: Roles of analyst coverage and internal control," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(1), pages 373-393, January.
    19. Pu Liu & Yingying Shao, 2022. "Innovation and new business formation: the role of innovative large firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 691-720, August.
    20. Tian, Qian & Zhu, Yan & Zhang, Zili, 2024. "The impact of local incentive-based legislation on the financing constraints of private firms–Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:wly:mgtdec:v:44:y:2023:i:8:p:4350-4362. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/7976 .

    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.