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Policy incentives for private innovation and maximising the returns

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  • Ben Westmore

Abstract

This paper uses panel regression techniques to assess the policy determinants of private-sector innovative activity – proxied by R&D expenditure and the number of new patents – across 19 OECD countries. The relationship between innovation indicators and multifactor productivity (MFP) growth is also examined with a particular focus on the role of public policies in influencing the returns to new knowledge. The results establish an empirical link between R&D and patenting, as well as between these measures of innovation intensity and MFP growth. Innovation-specific policies such as R&D tax incentives, direct government support and patent rights are found to be successful in encouraging the innovative activities associated with higher productivity growth. However, direct empirical evidence of the positive effects of these policies on productivity is less forthcoming. A pervasive theme from the analysis is the importance of coupling policies aimed at encouraging innovation or technological adoption with well-designed framework policies that allow knowledge spillovers to proliferate. In particular, the settings of framework policies relating to product market regulation, openness to trade and debtor protection in bankruptcy provisions are found to be important for the diffusion of new technologies. JEL classification: L20, O30, O40 Keywords: Intangible assets, innovation, productivity growth, public policy

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Westmore, 2014. "Policy incentives for private innovation and maximising the returns," OECD Journal: Economic Studies, OECD Publishing, vol. 2013(1), pages 121-163.
  • Handle: RePEc:oec:ecokac:5k3trmjlhxzq
    DOI: 10.1787/eco_studies-2013-5k3trmjlhxzq
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tim Buyse & Freddy Heylen & Ruben Schoonackers, 2015. "On The Role Of Public Policies And Wage Formation For Private Investment In R&D: A Long-Run Panel Analysis," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 15/911, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    2. Fernando Almeida & Nelson Amoedo, 2021. "Exploring the association between R&D expenditure and the job quality in the European Union," Papers 2101.03214, arXiv.org.
    3. Buyse, Tim & Heylen, Freddy & Schoonackers, Ruben, 2020. "On the impact of public policies and wage formation on business investment in research and development," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 188-199.
    4. Ur Rehman, Faheem & Islam, Md. Monirul, 2023. "Does energy infrastructure spur total factor productivity (TFP) in middle-income economies? An application of a novel energy infrastructure index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    5. Cátia Rosário & Celeste Varum & Anabela Botelho, 2024. "Comparison of the Profile of Portuguese Companies That Receive Public Support for Innovation: National Support vs. European Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-23, March.
    6. Ambashi, Masahito & Régibeau, Pierre & Rockett, Katharine E., 2019. "Grantbacks, territorial restraints, and innovation," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Munirul Nabin & Pasquale Sgro & Surjasama Lahiri, 2023. "The role of standard‐setting organizations in deciding product quality and process innovation," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 19(4), pages 767-786, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    intangible assets; innovation; productivity growth; public policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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