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Firm dynamics of hi-tech start-ups: Does innovation matter?

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  • Zhang, Dongyang
  • Zhuge, Liqun
  • Freeman, Richard B.

Abstract

Innovation plays a vital role in corporate issues since it brings potentially appreciable profits and shores up their statuses in certain fields, although it may also harness firms, especially smaller ones, with high survival risks. This concern brings forth our research topic: will participating in innovation activities diminish small firms' risk of exit from the market? Our paper concentrates on hi-tech start-ups and complements existing firm dynamic studies by adopting a comprehensive annual survey dataset from a considerable science park located in Beijing. Using an efficient discrete-time proportional hazards model, and thanks to extensive data available, we can take a deeper investigation into this topic. Our research complies with most of the previous studies that show that the benefit from innovativeness outweighs the cost and we solidify our conclusions by considering a few distinctive features existing in China's economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Dongyang & Zhuge, Liqun & Freeman, Richard B., 2020. "Firm dynamics of hi-tech start-ups: Does innovation matter?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:59:y:2020:i:c:s1043951x19301312
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2019.101370
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Firm dynamics; Start-up; Innovativeness; Discrete-time proportional hazards model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation

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