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Evaluating the Robustness of the Effect of Public Subsidies on Firms' R&D: An Application to Italy

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  • Giovanni Cerulli
  • Bianca Potì

Abstract

This paper applies different econometric methods to evaluate the effect of public subsidies on firms' R&D activity. For the sake of robustness, results from the Heckman selection model (Heckit), Control-function regression, Difference-in-differences, and various Matching methods are compared by using the third and fourth wave of the Italian Community Innovation Survey (CIS3, years 1998–2000 and CIS4, years 2002–2004). We predict the absence of a full crowding-out of private R&D performance, both for the whole sample and for some subsets of firms. Nevertheless, we conclude that while for variables expressed as ratio (R&D intensity and R&D per employee) the difference in results is negligible, R&D expenditure presents a strong variability among the approaches, even for those relying on similar identification assumptions. Given the utmost importance of this target-variable, future works should go beyond the use of single methods, especially when they are thought of to steer future policymaking.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Cerulli & Bianca Potì, 2012. "Evaluating the Robustness of the Effect of Public Subsidies on Firms' R&D: An Application to Italy," Journal of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 287-320, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:recsxx:v:15:y:2012:i:2:p:287-320
    DOI: 10.1016/S1514-0326(12)60013-0
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    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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