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R&D, patents, and financing constraints of the top global innovative firms

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  • Milani, Sahar
  • Neumann, Rebecca

Abstract

Highly innovative firms face unique financing constraints because there is often a greater degree of information asymmetry between firms and potential lenders. Prior literature indicates that patents provide a quality signal to external investors that potentially help mitigate internal liquidity constraints. In this paper, we study the joint impact of firms’ patent stocks and operating profit margin, which acts as a proxy for internal funds, on R&D expenditures in a panel of the top 2000 corporate R&D performers worldwide. We find that patenting activity lessens the impact of negative internal liquidity shocks on innovation for relatively smaller firms. In contrast, patenting activity does not have an attenuating effect for relatively larger firms. The results are consistent for high and medium-high technology firms and are robust to country specific controls.

Suggested Citation

  • Milani, Sahar & Neumann, Rebecca, 2022. "R&D, patents, and financing constraints of the top global innovative firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 546-567.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:196:y:2022:i:c:p:546-567
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.02.016
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    2. Wanwan Ma & Chenbin Zheng & Xin Zhao & Xiaowei Ma & Salahuddin Khan, 2024. "Impact of green finance on R&D of “two high and one surplus” enterprises against the greenwashing background: exploring the role of green credit," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 29493-29522, November.
    3. Gao, Feiyang & Tao, Yunqing & Chen, Dong & Cao, Yuyang, 2023. "Stringent financial regulation and corporate R&D investment: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    4. Wei Yu & Huiqin Huang & Xinyan Kong & Keying Zhu, 2023. "Can Digital Inclusive Finance Improve the Financial Performance of SMEs?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Luo, Yonggen & Wang, Deli & Hu, Shiyang, 2024. "Patent collateral and the trajectory of innovation," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financing constraints; Firm innovation; Patents; R&D;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • 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
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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