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Does issuing equity help R&D activity? Evidence from unlisted Italian high-tech manufacturing firms

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  • Silvia Magri

Abstract

This paper evaluates the causal effect of issuing equities on the probability that a firm engages in R&D activity. Equity is a better source of external finance than debt for innovation. It does not require collateral, does not exacerbate moral hazard problems connected with the substitution of high-risk for low-risk projects, quite common when using debt, and, unlike debt, does not increase the probability of bankruptcy; equity also allows investors to reap the entire benefit of the returns of successful innovative projects. This paper focuses on high-tech firms for which asymmetric information problems are more pervasive. Implementing an instrumental variable estimation, we find that issuing equity increases the probability that the firm has R&D expenditures by 30-40%. We detect considerable heterogeneity in this effect: the impact of issuing equity is significant only for small, young and more highly leveraged high-tech firms. We also find interesting evidence that issuing equity increases R&D expenditures in relation to sales.

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  • Silvia Magri, 2014. "Does issuing equity help R&D activity? Evidence from unlisted Italian high-tech manufacturing firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 825-854, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:23:y:2014:i:8:p:825-854
    DOI: 10.1080/10438599.2014.938574
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    2. Daniele Pianeselli, 2019. "Upwind sailors. Financial profile of innovative Italian firms during the double-dip recession," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 515, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    3. Antonelli, Cristiano & Scellato, Giuseppe, 2019. "Wage inequality and directed technological change: Implications for income distribution," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 59-65.
    4. Paolo Finaldi Russo & Silvia Magri & Cristiana Rampazzi, 2016. "Innovative start-ups in Italy: their special features and the effects of the 2012 law," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 339, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    5. Claudia Cantabene & Iacopo Grassi, 2020. "R&D cooperation in SMEs: the direct effect and the moderating role of human capital," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(28), pages 3090-3105, June.
    6. Antonio De Socio & Paolo Finaldi Russo, 2016. "The debt of Italian non-financial firms: an international comparison," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 308, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    7. HOSONO Kaoru & TAKIZAWA Miho, 2017. "Intangible Capital and the Choice of External Financing Sources," Discussion papers 17080, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    8. Bernardina Algieri & Antonio Aquino & Marianna Succurro, 2020. "The Impact of Cash-Flow and the Main Components of the Capital Structure on Innovative Performances of European Firms," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 11(1-2).
    9. Andrea Bellucci & Ilario Favaretto & Germana Giombini, 2014. "Does Innovation Affect Credit Access? New Empirical Evidence from Italian Small Business Lending," IAW Discussion Papers 104, Institut für Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (IAW).

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