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Accelerability vs. Scalability: R&D Investment Under Financial Constraints and Competition

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  • Danmo Lin

    (Finance Group, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom)

Abstract

I develop a continuous-time model to examine how the interaction between competition and financial constraints affects firms’ research and development (R&D) strategies. The model integrates two key characteristics of R&D investment: accelerability (i.e., higher R&D intensity leads to faster discovery) and scalability (i.e., higher R&D intensity leads to higher project payoff). I find that firms react strategically to their rivals’ financial constraints when making investment decisions in a duopoly R&D race. In particular, firms respond positively to the R&D intensity of an unconstrained rival, while they respond in a hump-shaped fashion to the R&D intensity of a constrained rival. As a result, a constrained firm can pre-empt an unconstrained competitor in market equilibrium. Accelerability is necessary for such pre-emption to occur, and scalability generally reduces its likelihood. Comparison with a monopoly benchmark shows that the economic mechanism differs from over-investment induced by financial constraints alone. The model also generates new implications regarding how project characteristics and cash flow risks impact R&D decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Danmo Lin, 2023. "Accelerability vs. Scalability: R&D Investment Under Financial Constraints and Competition," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(7), pages 4078-4107, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:69:y:2023:i:7:p:4078-4107
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2022.4503
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