Effectiveness of R & D subsidies — a sceptical note on the empirical literature

摘要

In previous literature, the impact of R&D subsidies on firms' technology efforts is analysed mainly with two different methods: by interviewing managers in subsidised firms and by measuring statistical covariation between R&D efforts and subsidies. Interview studies normally indicate that subsidies have been rather inefficient. In econometric studies, the endogeneity of subsidies may have biased the results, but when this problem is avoided, the results are consistent with interview studies.