R&D and productivity in the Indian pharmaceutical firms

Recent researches for developing countries suggest knowledge generating activates is no silver bullet for productivity growth. In this context, this paper examines the impact of R&D activities on firms’ performance for the Indian pharmaceutical industry by utilizing the data of the post reform period (1994-2006). The empirical analysis is performed in two stages. In first stage, we examine the relative productivity performance of R&D vis-à-vis non- R&D. Subsequently, we construct two empirical frameworks, namely, growth accounting and production function. Results of analysis indicate that R&D firms have productivity edge over non- R&D firms. Regression results based on the growth accounting framework suggest that R&D intensity has a positive and significant effect (15%) on TFP. The results also confirm that the performance of foreign firms operating in the industry is more sensitive towards R&D than the local firms. Furthermore, the estimation results of the production function approach indicate that the output elasticity to R&D capital varies from 10% to 13%. Therefore, we support the argument that ‘manna from heaven’ impact is large and significant.