Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
This paper identifies a positive causal effect of social security contributions on corporate innovation by exploiting the staggered passage of social contributions collection reforms in China. The collection of social security contributions was switched from social security institutions to tax authorities in Chinese provinces that have adopted collection reforms, which reduced employer-borne contributions. Our results indicate that a decrease in employer social security contributions induces an increase in the demand for labor by making labor less costly, subsequently discouraging labor-saving innovation. Moreover, the response of the innovation to the reforms is stronger for labor-intensive firms and non-state-owned enterprises.