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Do selected firms show higher performance? The case of Portugal’s innovation subsidy

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  • Santos, Anabela

Abstract

The paper evaluates the effect of a Portuguese innovation subsidy (SI Innovation), launched in 2007–2013, on firm performance. Using counterfactual analysis methods and a sample composed of firms with approved applications and non-approved ones, the study shows that firms with the best proposals and with higher performance in the pre-intervention period are more likely to receive the subsidy. A positive and sustainable effect of the subsidy, within a time-window of 5 years, on fixed asset investment and technological progress are found. However, it seems that public support has only an effect on the size of investment and not on the decision to invest. Subsidized firms also perform less well than matched non-subsidized ones, and they are less effective in achieving the planned goals concerning labour productivity and value creation.

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  • Santos, Anabela, 2019. "Do selected firms show higher performance? The case of Portugal’s innovation subsidy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 39-50.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:50:y:2019:i:c:p:39-50
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2019.04.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Pu‐Yan Nie & Xu Xiao & Chan Wang & Ting Cui, 2020. "Innovation subsidy under duopoly," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(3), pages 362-370, April.
    3. Raphaël CHIAPPINI & Sophie POMMET, 2023. "The impact of public support for innovation on SME performance and efficiency," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2023-06, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    4. Yang, Zhenbing & Shao, Shuai & Yang, Lili, 2021. "Unintended consequences of carbon regulation on the performance of SOEs in China: The role of technical efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Busu, Mihail & Caraiani, Petre & Hadad, Shahrazad & Incze, Cynthia Bianka & Vargas, Madalina Vanesa, 2021. "The performance of publicly funded startups in Romania," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 45(3).
    6. Coad, Alex & Grassano, Nicola & Hall, Bronwyn H. & Moncada-Paternò-Castello, Pietro & Vezzani, Antonio, 2019. "Innovation and industrial dynamics," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 126-131.
    7. Cátia Rosário & Celeste Varum & Anabela Botelho, 2022. "Impact of Public Support for Innovation on Company Performance: Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, April.
    8. Jugend, Daniel & Fiorini, Paula De Camargo & Armellini, Fabiano & Ferrari, Aline Gabriela, 2020. "Public support for innovation: A systematic review of the literature and implications for open innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    9. Shuai Wang & Fayyaz Ahmad & Yanlong Li & Nabila Abid & Abbas Ali Chandio & Abdul Rehman, 2022. "The Impact of Industrial Subsidies and Enterprise Innovation on Enterprise Performance: Evidence from Listed Chinese Manufacturing Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.
    10. Alexandre, Fernando & Chaves, Miguel & Portela, Miguel, 2022. "Investment Grants and Firms' Productivity: How Effective Is a Grant Booster Shot?," IZA Discussion Papers 15779, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Tânia Pinto & Aurora Teixeira, 2023. "Does scientific research output matter for Portugal’s economic growth?," GEE Papers 0174, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Jul 2023.
    12. Yanfeng Lou & Yezhuang Tian & Kai Wang, 2020. "The Spillover Effect of US Industrial Subsidies on China’s Exports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-12, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Subsidy; Innovation; Firms’ performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy

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