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Patents versus Subsidies � A Laboratory Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Donja Darai

    (Socioeconomic Institute, University of Zurich)

  • Jens Grosser

    (Departments of Political Science and Economics, Florida State University)

  • Nadja Trhal

    (Economics Department, University of Cologne)

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of patents and subsidies on R&D investment decisions. The theoretical framework is a two-stage game consisting of an investment and a market stage. In equilibrium, both patents and subsidies induce the same amount of R&D investment, which is higher than the investment without governmental incentives. In the first stage, the firms can invest in a stochastic R&D project which might lead to a reduction of the marginal production costs and in the second stage, the firms face price competition. Both stages of the game are implemented in a laboratory experiment and the obtained results support the theoretical predictions. Patents and subsidies increase investment in R&D and the observed amounts of investment in the patent and subsidy treatment do not differ significantly across both instruments. However, we observe overinvestment in all three treatments. Observed prices in the market stage converge to equilibrium price levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Donja Darai & Jens Grosser & Nadja Trhal, 2009. "Patents versus Subsidies � A Laboratory Experiment," SOI - Working Papers 0905, Socioeconomic Institute - University of Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:soz:wpaper:0905
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    File URL: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/51917/1/wp0905.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    R&D investment; oligopoly; patents; subsidies; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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