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R&D Heterogeneity and Countercyclical Productivity Dispersion

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  • Shuowen Chen
  • Yang Ming

Abstract

Why is the U.S. industry-level productivity dispersion countercyclical? Theoretically, we build a duopoly model in which heterogeneous R&D costs determine firms' optimal behaviors and the equilibrium technology gap after a negative profit shock. Quantitatively, we calibrate a parameterized model, simulate firms' post--shock responses and predict that productivity dispersion is due to the low-cost firm increasing R&D efforts and the high-cost firm doing the opposite. Empirically, we construct an index of negative profit shocks and provide two reduced-form tests for this mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuowen Chen & Yang Ming, 2021. "R&D Heterogeneity and Countercyclical Productivity Dispersion," Papers 2108.02272, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2022.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2108.02272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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