The Dynamic Impact of Exporting on Firm R&D Investment

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of the European Economic Association
Year: 2023
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Pages: 1318-1362

Authors (4)

Florin G Maican (not in RePEc) Matilda Orth (not in RePEc) Mark J Roberts (Pennsylvania State University) Van Anh Vuong (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This article estimates a dynamic structural model of firm R&D investment in twelve Swedish manufacturing industries and uses it to measure rates of return to R&D and to simulate the impact of trade restrictions on the investment incentives. Export market profits are a substantial source of the expected return to R&D. R&D spending is found to have a larger impact on firm productivity in the export market than in the domestic market. Counterfactual simulations show that trade restrictions lower both the expected return to R&D and R&D investment level, thus reducing an important source of the dynamic gains from trade. A 10% tariff on Swedish exports reduces the expected benefits of R&D for the median firm by 18.6% and lowers the amount of R&D spending by 7.6% in the high-tech industries. The corresponding reductions in the low-tech industries are 20.6% and 5.5%, respectively. R&D adjustments in response to export tariffs mainly occur on the intensive, rather than the extensive, margin.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:jeurec:v:21:y:2023:i:4:p:1318-1362.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-29