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Firm R&D investment and export market exposure

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  • Peters, Bettina
  • Roberts, Mark J.
  • Vuong, Van Anh

Abstract

In this article we study differences in the returns to R&D investment between firms that sell in international markets and firms that only sell in the domestic market. We use German firm-level data from the high-tech manufacturing sector to estimate a dynamic structural model of a firm's decision to invest in R&D and use it to measure the difference in expected long-run benefit from R&D investment for exporting and domestic firms. The results show that R&D investment leads to a higher rate of product and process innovation among exporting firms and these innovations have a larger impact on productivity improvement in export market sales. As a result, exporting firms have a higher payoff from R&D investment, invest in R&D more frequently than firms that only sell in the domestic market, and, subsequently, have higher rates of productivity growth. The endogenous investment in R&D is an important mechanism that leads to a divergence in the long-run performance of firms that differ in their export market exposure. Simulating the introduction of trade tariffs we find a substantial reduction in firms' productivity growth and incentive to invest in R&D.

Suggested Citation

  • Peters, Bettina & Roberts, Mark J. & Vuong, Van Anh, 2018. "Firm R&D investment and export market exposure," ZEW Discussion Papers 18-047, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:18047
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    10. Yoshihiko Hogen & Yojiro Ito & Kenji Kanai & Naoya Kishi, 2024. "Changes in the Global Economic Landscape and Issues for Japan's Economy," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 24-E-3, Bank of Japan.
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    13. Iryna Rud & Mark Vancauteren & Hendrik W.H. Roekel & Michael Polder, 2023. "The Relationship Between R&D and Exports in Goods and Services of Firms in the Netherlands: An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 283-308, December.
    14. Liu, Mengxiao & Wang, Luhang & Yi, Yimin, 2022. "Quality Innovation, Cost Innovation, Export, and Firm Productivity Evolution: Evidence from the Chinese Electronics Industry," MPRA Paper 113270, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    R&D choice; Export; Innovation; Productivity; Dynamic structural model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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