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Evaluating the impact of public subsidies on a firm’s performance: a two-stage quasi-experimental approach

Author

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  • Duch, Néstor

    (Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB))

  • Montolio, Daniel

    (Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB))

  • Mediavilla , Mauro

    (Interdisciplinary Group on Educational Policies (GIPE))

Abstract

In this paper we evaluate the effectiveness of regional R&D public programs in Catalonia (Spain) with a two-stage procedure. Firstly, we compare the performance of publicly subsidised companies (treated) with that of similar, but unsubsidised companies (non-treated). We use the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methodology to construct a control group which, with regard to its observable characteristics, is as similar as possible to the treated group, and that allows us to identify firms which maintain the same propensity to receive public subsidies. Secondly, and once a valid comparison group has been established, we compare the respective performance of each firm using regression techniques. As a result, we find that recipient firms, on average, seem to increase their value added as a direct result of public subsidy programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Duch, Néstor & Montolio, Daniel & Mediavilla , Mauro, 2009. "Evaluating the impact of public subsidies on a firm’s performance: a two-stage quasi-experimental approach," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 16, pages 143-165.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:invreg:0082
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Bellucci & Luca Pennacchio & Alberto Zazzaro, 2019. "Public R&D subsidies: collaborative versus individual place-based programs for SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 213-240, January.
    2. Jerzy Michalek & Pavel Ciaian & D'Artis Kancs, 2016. "Investment Crowding Out: Firm-Level Evidence from Northern Germany," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(9), pages 1579-1594, September.
    3. Sergio Afcha & Jose García-Quevedo, 2016. "The impact of R&D subsidies on R&D employment composition," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 25(6), pages 955-975.
    4. Enrico Vanino & Stephen Roper & Bettina Becker, 2020. "Knowledge to Money: Assessing the Business Performance Effects of Publicly Funded R&D Grants," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 17(04), pages 20-24, January.
    5. Zhang, Huiming & Li, Lianshui & Zhou, Dequn & Zhou, Peng, 2014. "Political connections, government subsidies and firm financial performance: Evidence from renewable energy manufacturing in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 330-336.
    6. Zuzana Špinerová, 2014. "Public Procurement and its Impact on Financial Indicators of Companies in the Construction Sector in Slovakia [Verejné obstarávanie a jeho vplyv na finančné ukazovatele firiem v sektore stavebníctv," Acta Oeconomica Pragensia, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2014(3), pages 61-76.
    7. Xudong Li & Ali Esfahbodi & Yufeng Zhang, 2024. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Implementation on Enterprises’ Financial Performance—Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-22, February.
    8. Andries Brandsma & d'Artis Kancs & Pavel Ciaian, 2013. "The Role of Additionality in the EU Cohesion Policies: An Example of Firm-Level Investment Support," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(6), pages 838-853, June.
    9. Hyensup Shim & Kiyoon Shin, 2021. "Empirical Analysis of Evidence-Based Policymaking in R&D Programmes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Sergio Afcha & Jose García-Quevedo, 2016. "The impact of R&D subsidies on R&D employment composition," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(6), pages 955-975.
    11. Inês Teixeira & Aurora Teixeira & Luís Santos, 2023. "R&D subsidies and Portuguese firms’ performance: A longitudinal firm-level study," GEE Papers 0173, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Jul 2023.
    12. Olubunmi Ipinnaiye & Declan Dineen & Helena Lenihan, 2017. "Drivers of SME performance: a holistic and multivariate approach," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 883-911, April.
    13. Arpino, Bruno & Mattei, Alessandra, 2013. "Assessing the Impact of Financial Aids to Firms: Causal Inference in the presence of Interference," MPRA Paper 51795, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Néstor Duch-Brown & José García-Quevedo & Daniel Montolio, 2011. "The link between public support and private r&d effort: what is the optimal subsidy?," Working Papers 2011/12, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    15. repec:lic:licosd:37015 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Eva Coll-Martínez, 2019. "Creativity and the city: testing the attenuation of agglomeration economies in Barcelona," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 43(3), pages 365-395, September.
    17. Brüggemann, Julia & Proeger, Till, 2017. "The effectiveness of public subsidies for private innovations: An experimental approach," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 266, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics, revised 2017.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    R&D policy; evaluation; firm performance; Propensity Score Matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L53 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Enterprise Policy

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