Share:


Can government R&D expenditure promote innovation? New evidence from 37 OECD countries

    Yemin Ding Affiliation
    ; Fengchun Yin Affiliation
    ; Lee Chin Affiliation
    ; Kun Zhou Affiliation
    ; Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary Affiliation
    ; Yaning Li Affiliation

Abstract

This research employs a fixed effect model to empirically estimate panel data from 37 OECD countries spanning 2000 to 2021, revisiting the influence of government R&D expenditure on innovation within the theory of marginal diminishing effect. Results reveal a significant positive effect of government R&D expenditure on national innovation capacity, and this influence remains robust under robustness checks. Then, quantile regression uncovers a nuanced pattern, indicating that as a country’s innovation capacity strengthens, the stimulative effect of government R&D expenditure initially rises and subsequently declines. Additionally, incorporating lags of the independent variable at different periods affirms the time lag effect of government R&D expenditure on national innovation capacity. Deeper scrutiny using two fixed effect models including interaction terms reveals a multifaceted mechanism, where government R&D expenditure fosters innovation by promoting bank credit, yet simultaneously suppresses innovation by hindering non-governmental R&D intensity. Lastly, heterogeneity analysis affirms that government efficiency, democracy, ruling party ideology, political stability, and economic freedom moderate the link between government R&D expenditure and national innovation capacity. These insights offer new references for governments to promote innovation.


First published online 23 October 2024

Keyword : government R&D expenditure, innovation, OECD, bank credit, government efficiency

How to Cite
Ding, Y., Yin, F., Chin, L., Zhou, K., Taghizadeh-Hesary, F., & Li, Y. (2024). Can government R&D expenditure promote innovation? New evidence from 37 OECD countries. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2024.22293
Published in Issue
Oct 23, 2024
Abstract Views
202
PDF Downloads
105
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Anokhin, S., & Wincent, J. (2012). Start-up rates and innovation: a cross-country examination. Journal of International Business Studies, 43(1), 41–60. https://doi.org/10.1057/jibs.2011.47

Arellano, M., & Bond, S. R. (1991). Some tests of specification for panel data: Monte Carlo evidence and an application to employment equations. Review of Economic Studies, 58(2), 277–297. https://doi.org/10.2307/2297968

Asghar, M., Chaudhry, I. S., & Ali, S. (2024). Innovation, energy consumption and trade dynamic: Evidence from developed and developing countries. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15, 4356–4382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01300-1

Asteriou, D., Pilbeam, K., & Tomuleasa, I. (2021). The impact of corruption, economic freedom, regulation and transparency on bank profitability and bank stability: Evidence from the Eurozone area. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 184, 150–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2020.08.023

Audretsch, D., Link, A., & Scott, J. (2002). Public/private technology partnerships: Evaluating SBIR-supported research. Research Policy, 31(1), 145–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(00)00158-X

Bianchi, N., & Giorcelli, M. (2020). Scientific education and innovation: From technical diplomas to university STEM degrees. Journal of the European Economic Association, 18(5), 2608–2646. https://doi.org/10.1093/jeea/jvz049

Boeing, P., Eberle, J., & Howell, A. (2022). The impact of China’s R&D subsidies on R&D investment, technological upgrading and economic growth. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 174, Article 121212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121212

Bruce, J. R., de Figueiredo, J. M., & Silverman, B. S. (2019). Public contracting for private innovation: Government capabilities, decision rights, and performance outcomes. Strategic Management Journal, 40(4), 533–555. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2973

Cai, M., Cui, R., & Li, D. (2023). Trade with innovation benefits: A re-appraisal using micro data from China. Journal of Asian Economics, 89, Article 101664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2023.101664

Cai, S., Wang, H., & Zhou, X. (2021). Do city size and population density influence regional innovation output evidence from China?. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, 2021, Article 3582053. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/3582053

Castellion, G., & Markham, S. K. (2013). Perspective: New product failure rates: Influence of argumentum ad populum and self-interest. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 30(5), 976–979. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2012.01009.x

Cornaggia, J., & Li, J. Y. (2019). The value of access to finance: Evidence from M&As. Journal of Financial Economics, 131(1), 232–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2018.09.003

Cotoc, I., Johri, A., & Sosa-Padilla, C. (2021). Sovereign spreads and the political leaning of nations (NBER Working Paper 29197). https://doi.org/10.3386/w29197

Czarnitzki, D., & Licht, G. (2006). Additionality of public R&D grants in a transition economy: The case of Eastern Germany. The Economics of Transition, 14(1), 101–131. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0351.2006.00236.x

Dai, X., & Chapman, G. (2022). R&D tax incentives and innovation: Examining the role of programme design in China. Technovation, 113, Article 102419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102419

Ding, Y., Chin, L., Li, F., & Deng, P. (2022). How does government efficiency affect health outcomes? The empirical evidence from 156 countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), Article 9436. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159436

Ding, Y., Chin, L., Li, F., Deng, P., & Cong, S. (2023). How do housing prices affect a city’s innovation capacity? The case of China. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 29(5), 1382–1404. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2023.18899

Dong, J., Li, W., Cao, Y., & Fang, J. (2016). How does technology and population progress relate? An empirical study of the last 10,000 years. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 103(4), 57–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.11.011

Donou-Adonsou, F. (2019). Technology, education, and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Telecommunications Policy, 43(4), 353–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2018.08.005

Ege, A., & Ege, A. (2019). How to create a friendly environment for innovation? A case for Europe. Social Indicators Research, 144, 451–473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-2039-4

Furman, J. L., Porter, M. E., & Stern, S. (2002). The determinants of national innovative capacity. Research Policy, 31(6), 899–933. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(01)00152-4

García, F., Jin, B., & Salomon, R. (2013). Does inward foreign direct investment improve the innovative performance of local firms?. Research Policy, 42(1), 231–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.06.005

Gozgor, G., Demir, E., Belas, J., & Yesilyurt, S. (2019). Does economic uncertainty affect domestic credits? An empirical investigation. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 63, Article 101147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2019.101147

Guo, Q., & Zhong, J. (2022). The effect of urban innovation performance of smart city construction policies: Evaluate by using a multiple period difference-in-differences model. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 184, Article 122003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122003

Harkati, R., Alhabshi, S. M., & Kassim, S. (2020). Influence of economic freedom and its subcomponents on risk-taking behavior: Evidence from dual banking system of Malaysia. Review of Behavioral Finance, 12(4), 335–356. https://doi.org/10.1108/RBF-09-2019-0119

Hevia-Pacheco, P., & Vergara-Camus, L. (2013). Addressing intersecting inequalities: inclusive political regimes, democratically-elected left-wing governments: The cases of Brazil and Ecuador (Background paper for ODI Report “Strengthening social justice to address intersecting inequalities post-2015”, 2014). Overseas Development Institute.

Jadiyappa, N., Hickman, L. E., Kakani, R. K., & Abidi, Q. (2021). Auditor tenure and audit quality: An investigation of moderating factors prior to the commencement of mandatory rotations in India. Managerial Auditing Journal, 36(5), 724–743. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-12-2020-2957

Jalles, J. T. (2010). How to measure innovation? New evidence of the technology-growth linkage. Research in Economics, 64(2), 81–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rie.2009.10.007

Kaiser, U., Kongsted, H. C., & Rønde, T. (2015). Does the mobility of R&D labor increase innovation?. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 110, 91–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2014.12.012

Kuhn, T. S. (2012). The structure of scientific revolutions. University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226458144.001.0001

Lach, S. (2002). Do R&D subsidies stimulate or displace private R&D? Evidence from Israel. The Journal of Industrial Economics, 50(4), 369–390. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6451.00182

Li, B., Chang, C. P., & Zheng, M. (2021). Assessment of innovation and foreign direct investment: An investigation of OECD countries. Pacific Economic Review, 26(3), 392–403. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0106.12346

Li, Z., Chen, H., & Mo, B. (2023). Can digital finance promote urban innovation? Evidence from China. Borsa Istanbul Review, 23(2), 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2022.10.006

Liu, J., Chang, H., Forrest, J. Y. L., & Yang, B. (2020). Influence of artificial intelligence on technological innovation: Evidence from the panel data of China’s manufacturing sectors. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 158, Article 120142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120142

Lovett, K. (2011). Institutional design and economic growth: the relationship between bureaucracy and economic performance in a global economy (Working Paper).

Lööf, H., & Heshmati, A. (2007). The impact of public funds on private R&D investment: New evidence from a firm level innovation study (MTT Discussion Paper, No. 3). MTT Agrifood Research Finland.

Morita, H., & Nguyen, X. (2021). FDI and quality-enhancing technology spillovers. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 79, Article 102787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijindorg.2021.102787

Nakano, M., & Nguyen, P. (2012). Board size and corporate risk taking: Further evidence from Japan. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 20(4), 369–387. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2012.00924.x

Neff, T., & Pickard, V. (2021). Funding democracy: Public media and democratic health in 33 countries. The International Journal of Press/Politics. https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612211060255

Omri, A. (2020). Technological innovation and sustainable development: Does the stage of development matter?. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 83, Article 106398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2020.106398

Parrotta, P., Pozzoli, D., & Pytlikova, M. (2014). The nexus between labor diversity and firm’s innovation. Journal of Population Economics, 27, 303–364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-013-0491-7

Pradhan, R. P., Arvin, M. B., Hall, J. H., & Nair, M. (2016). Innovation, financial development and economic growth in Eurozone countries. Applied Economics Letters, 23(16), 1141–1144. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2016.1139668

Ren, Y. (2022). Industrial investment funds, government R&D subsidies, and technological innovation: Evidence from Chinese companies. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 890208. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.890208

Syed, Q. R., Bouri, E., Zafar, R. F., & Adekoya, O. B. (2022). Does geopolitical risk mitigate inbound tourism? Evidence from panel quantile regression. Journal of Public Affairs, 22, Article e2784. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2784

Tan, J., Zhang, Y., & Cao, H. (2023). The FDI-spawned technological spillover effects on innovation quality of local enterprises: Evidence from industrial firms and the patents in China. Applied Economics, 55(49), 5800–5815. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2022.2140765

Tang, D., Li, Y., Zheng, H., & Yuan, X. (2022). Government R&D spending, fiscal instruments and corporate technological innovation. China Journal of Accounting Research, 15(3), Article 100250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjar.2022.100250

Wallsten, S. J. (2000). The effects of government-industry R&D programs on private R&D: The case of the small business innovation research program. The RAND Journal of Economics, 31(1), 82–100. https://doi.org/10.2307/2601030

Wang, H., Xue, C., Li, Y., & Zhao, P. (2023). The impact of government subsidies on the human resources and innovation output of makerspaces according to signal theory. International Journal of Technology Management, 92(3), 139–158. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTM.2023.128835

Wang, Q. J., Feng, G. F., Chen, Y. E., Wen, J., & Chang, C. P. (2019). The impacts of government ideology on innovation: What are the main implications?. Research Policy, 48(5), 1232–1247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.12.009

Wang, Q. J., Feng, G. F., Wang, H. J., & Chang, C. P. (2021). The impacts of democracy on innovation: Revisited evidence. Technovation, 108, Article 102333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102333

Wen, J., Deng, P., Fu, Q., & Chang, C. (2022). Does health innovation relieve disease burden? The comprehensive evidence. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 174, Article 121202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121202

Wen, J., Deng, P., Zhang, Q., & Chang, C. (2021). Is higher government efficiency bringing about higher innovation? Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 27(3), 626–655. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2021.14269

Wen, J., Feng, G., Chang, C., & Feng, Z. (2018). Stock liquidity and enterprise innovation: New evidence from China. The European Journal of Finance, 24(9), 683–713. https://doi.org/10.1080/1351847X.2017.1347573

Xu, R., Shen, Y., Liu, M., Li, L., Xia, X., & Luo, K. (2023). Can government subsidies improve innovation performance? Evidence from Chinese listed companies. Economic Modelling, 120, Article 106151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2022.106151

Yuliantini, L.S., & Nurmandi, A. (2023). The impact of the e-government development index (EGDI) on the worldwide governance indicator (WGI) in European Union countries. Policy & Governance Review, 7(2), 140–153. https://doi.org/10.30589/pgr.v7i2.732

Zakari, A., Tawiah, V., Oyewo, B., & Alvarado, R. (2023). The impact of corruption on green innovation: The case of OECD and non-OECD countries. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 66(6), 1336–1368. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2022.2027234

Zang, L., Xiong, F., Lao, X., & Gao, Y. (2019). Does governance efficiency matter for national innovative capacity? One tale from different countries. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 31(2), 239–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2018.1493450

Zavale, N. C. (2023). Is Sub-Saharan Africa a knowledge society or economy?. In N. Andrews, & N. E. Khalema (Eds.), Decolonizing African studies pedagogies. Political pedagogies. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37442-5_7

Zhao, S., Xu, B., & Zhang, W. (2018). Government R&D subsidy policy in China: An empirical examination of effect, priority, and specifics. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 135, 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.10.004

Zheng, G., Wang, S., & Xu, Y. (2018). Monetary stimulation, bank relationship and innovation: Evidence from China. Journal of Banking & Finance, 89, 237–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2018.02.010

Zheng, H., Song, M., & Shen, Z. (2021). The evolution of renewable energy and its impact on carbon reduction in China. Energy, 237, Article 121639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121639