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Investment differences between public and private firms: Evidence from U.S. tax returns

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  • Feldman, Naomi
  • Kawano, Laura
  • Patel, Elena
  • Rao, Nirupama
  • Stevens, Michael
  • Edgerton, Jesse

Abstract

Using tax data, we compare the investment behavior of public and private firms for a representative sample of all U.S. corporations. We find that while both types of firms invest similarly in physical capital, public firms out-invest private firms in R&D. Compared to observationally-similar private firms, public firms invest roughly 50% more in R&D relative to their asset bases. Further, public firms dedicate 7.4 percentage points more of their investments to R&D than private firms. This stronger public firm R&D investment is muted when shareholder earnings pressures are heightened, but not so much as to overcome the baseline investment advantage.

Suggested Citation

  • Feldman, Naomi & Kawano, Laura & Patel, Elena & Rao, Nirupama & Stevens, Michael & Edgerton, Jesse, 2021. "Investment differences between public and private firms: Evidence from U.S. tax returns," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:196:y:2021:i:c:s0047272721000062
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104370
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    Cited by:

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    3. Matzner, Anna & Steininger, Lea, 2024. "Firms’ heterogeneous (and unintended) investment response to carbon price increases," Working Paper Series 2958, European Central Bank.
    4. ORIHARA Masanori & SUZUKI Takafumi, 2021. "Windfalls? Costs and Benefits of Investment Tax Incentives due to Financial Constraints," Discussion papers 21087, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Investment; Public firms; Corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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