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Tax incentives for R&D

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel Griffith

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • David Sandler
  • John Van Reenen

Abstract

A long-standing concern surrounding the performance of the UK economy is its perceived failure to maintain the same technological pace as its competitors. Industrial research and development (R&D) expenditure as a proportion of GDP fell during the 1980s at a time when all other G7 countries increased the proportion of their output given over to R&D. This ratio is now lower in the UK than in most other G7 countries. If this world-wide trend toward more R&D indicates that industrial production is becoming increasingly science-based, then the UK may be in danger of becoming a relatively low-tech economy. One purpose of this article is to examine whether there is a rational basis for these fears.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Griffith & David Sandler & John Van Reenen, 1995. "Tax incentives for R&D," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 16(2), pages 21-44, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:fistud:v:16:y:1995:i:2:p:21-44
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Van Reenen, John & Griffith, Rachel & Bloom, Nicholas, 2000. "Do R&D Credits Work? Evidence From A Panel Of Countries 1979-97," CEPR Discussion Papers 2415, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Sabina Hodzic, 2013. "Tax Incentives For Research And Development In Austria And Croatia: B-Index," Economic Thought and Practice, Department of Economics and Business, University of Dubrovnik, vol. 22(2), pages 397-416, december.
    3. Klette, Tor Jakob & Møen, Jarle, 2011. "R&D investment responses to R&D subsidies: A theoretical analysis and a microeconometric study," Discussion Papers 2011/15, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    4. Pierre Mohnen, 1999. "Tax Incentives: Issue and Evidence," CIRANO Working Papers 99s-32, CIRANO.
    5. Van Reenen, John, 1997. "Why has Britain had slower R&D growth?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(4-5), pages 493-507, December.
    6. Hernan Jaramillo Salazar & Carlos Pombo & Juan Miguel Gallego, 2002. "Incentivos fiscales en ciencia, tecnología e innovación: una revisión y análisis de la experiencia internacional," Borradores de Investigación 2828, Universidad del Rosario.
    7. Jacob, Brian A. & Lefgren, Lars, 2011. "The impact of research grant funding on scientific productivity," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9), pages 1168-1177.
    8. Dagenais, Marcel & Mohnen, Pierre & Therrien, Pierre, 2004. "Les firmes canadiennes répondent-elles aux incitations fiscales à la recherche-développement?," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 80(2), pages 175-205, Juin-Sept.
    9. Karzanova Irina, 2005. "Impact of tax regime on real sector investment in Russia: marginal effective tax rates for physical, human and R&D capital," EERC Working Paper Series 05-16e, EERC Research Network, Russia and CIS.
    10. Hulya Celebi & Sabina Hodžić, 2017. "The Impact of Corporate Income Tax on R&D of Multinational Entities: An Impact Analysis of Separate Taxation and CCCTB," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2017(3), pages 17-31.
    11. Kenneth J. McKenzie, 2012. "The Big and the Small of Tax Support for R&D in Canada," SPP Research Papers, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, vol. 5(22), July.
    12. Bloom, Nick & Griffith, Rachel & Van Reenen, John, 2002. "Do R&D tax credits work? Evidence from a panel of countries 1979-1997," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 1-31, July.
    13. Dagenais, M. & Mohnen, P. & Therrien, P., 1997. "Do Canadian Firms Respond to Fiscal Incentives To Research and Development?," G.R.E.Q.A.M. 97b05, Universite Aix-Marseille III.
    14. Jacques Mairesse & Benoît Mulkay, 2004. "Une evaluation du credit d’impot recherche en France, 1980-1997," Working Papers 2004-43, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    15. Desiderio Romero Jordán & José Félix Sanz Sanz, 2007. "Eficacia de los incentivos fiscales a la inversión en I+D en España en los años noventa," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 183(4), pages 9-32, december.
    16. Rachel Griffith & Stephen Redding & John Van Reenen, 2001. "Measuring the cost-effectiveness of an R&D tax credit for the UK," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 22(3), pages 375-399, September.
    17. Adam Adamczyk, 2010. "Propozycje zmian bodźców podatkowych wspierających działalność B+R polskich przedsiębiorstw," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 11-12, pages 41-60.
    18. Agustin Redonda, 2016. "Tax Expenditures and Sustainability. An Overview," Discussion Notes 1603, Council on Economic Policies.
    19. Kenneth J. McKenzie, 2005. "Tax Subsidies for R&D in Canadian Provinces," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 31(1), pages 29-44, March.
    20. Hall, Bronwyn & Van Reenen, John, 2000. "How effective are fiscal incentives for R&D? A review of the evidence," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(4-5), pages 449-469, April.

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