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R&D, export and investment decision: evidence from European firms

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  • Oliviero A. Carboni
  • Giuseppe Medda

Abstract

This article provides an empirical investigation of the mechanism through which R&D influences export and tangible investment decisions. The analysis is based on a large representative and cross-country comparative sample of manufacturing firms across seven European countries. The novelty of this work lies in the three aspects. First, we expand the results on the R&D–export and R&D–investment relationships to a wide sample of cross-European firms. This differentiates from previous works based on single-country samples. Second, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in years which assess empirically the relationship between R&D and tangible investment at the micro level. Third, we control for endogeneity of R&D and simultaneity in firms’ decision whether to export and carry out tangible investment. The results of the analysis suggest that R&D positively affects export propensity and tangible investment. The results also reveal that neglecting endogeneity and simultaneity issues leads to underestimate the effect of R&D to both export and investment propensities.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliviero A. Carboni & Giuseppe Medda, 2018. "R&D, export and investment decision: evidence from European firms," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 187-201, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:50:y:2018:i:2:p:187-201
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2017.1332747
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    2. Timo Mitze & Teemu Makkonen, 2020. "When interaction matters: the contingent effects of spatial knowledge spillovers and internal R&I on firm productivity," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 1088-1120, August.
    3. Falk, Martin & de Lemos, Francisco Figueira, 2019. "Complementarity of R&D and productivity in SME export behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 157-168.
    4. Andrin Spescha & Martin Woerter, 2021. "Research and development as an initiator of fixed capital investment," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 117-145, January.
    5. Sorin M. S. Krammer & Addisu A. Lashitew & Jonathan P. Doh & Hari Bapuji, 2023. "Income inequality, social cohesion, and crime against businesses: Evidence from a global sample of firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(2), pages 385-400, March.
    6. Wu, Lichao & Wei, Yingqi & Wang, Chengang, 2021. "Disentangling the effects of business groups in the innovation-export relationship," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(1).
    7. Chadi Azmeh, 2022. "Quantity and quality of research output and economic growth: empirical investigation for all research areas in the MENA countries," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(11), pages 6147-6163, November.
    8. Lin, Boqiang & Wang, Siquan, 2024. "Sustainability of renewable energy in China: Enhanced strategic investment and displaced R&D expenditure," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    9. G Medda & OA Carboni, 2019. "External R&D Acquisition and Product Innovation," Working Paper CRENoS 201906, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    10. Wu, Lichao & Wei, Yingqi & Wang, Chengang & McDonald, Frank & Han, Xia, 2022. "The importance of institutional and financial resources for export performance associated with technological innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).

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