Research, Innovation, and Productivity: an Econometric Analysis at the Firm Level

44 Pages Posted: 29 Oct 1998 Last revised: 26 Oct 2022

See all articles by Bruno Crepon

Bruno Crepon

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) - National School for Statistical and Economic Administration (ENSAE); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Emmanuel Duguet

ERUDITE

Jacques Mairesse

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) - Center for Research in Economics and Statistics (CREST); Maastricht University - United Nations and Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 1998

Abstract

This paper studies the links between productivity, innovation and research at th level. We introduce three new features: (i) A structural model that explains pro by innovation output, and innovation output by research investment; (ii) New dat manufacturing firms, including the number of European patents and the percentage sales, as well as firm-level demand pull and technology push indicators; (iii) E which correct for selectivity and simultaneity biases and take into account the features of the available data: only a small proportion of firms engage in resea apply for patents; productivity, innovation and research are endogenously determ investment and capital are truncated variables, patents are count data and innov We find that using the more widespread methods, and the more usual data and mode may lead to sensibly different estimates. We find in particular that simultaneit with selectivity, and that both sources of biases must be taken into account tog results are consistent with many of the stylized facts of the empirical literatu of engaging in research (R&D) for a firm increases with its size (number of empl share and diversification, and with the demand pull and technology push indicato capital intensity) of a firm engaged in research increases with the same variabl research capital being strictly proportional to size). The firm innovation outpu patent numbers or innovative sales, rises with its research effort and with the indicators, either directly or indirectly through their effects on research. Fin correlates positively with an higher innovation output, even when controlling fo the skill composition of labor as well as for physical capital intensity.

Suggested Citation

Crepon, Bruno and Duguet, Emmanuel and Mairesse, Jacques, Research, Innovation, and Productivity: an Econometric Analysis at the Firm Level (August 1998). NBER Working Paper No. w6696, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=122293

Bruno Crepon

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) - National School for Statistical and Economic Administration (ENSAE) ( email )

92245 Malakoff Cedex
France

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Emmanuel Duguet

ERUDITE ( email )

Mail des Mèches
61 avenue du Général de Gaulle
Créteil Cedex, 94010
France

Jacques Mairesse (Contact Author)

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) - Center for Research in Economics and Statistics (CREST) ( email )

15 Boulevard Gabriel Peri
Malakoff Cedex, 1 92245
France

Maastricht University - United Nations and Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT)

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6211 TC Maastricht
Netherlands

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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