R&D, International Sourcing, and the Joint Impact on Firm Performance

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Boler, Esther Ann; Moxnes, Andreas; Ulltveit-Moe, Karen Helene
• 署名单位: University of Oslo; Center for Economic & Policy Research (CEPR); National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20121530
• 发表日期: 2015
• 页码: 3704-3739
• 关键词: trade liberalization; intermediate inputs; PRODUCTIVITY; returns

摘要

This paper studies the impact of an R&D cost shock on R&D investments, imported inputs, and their joint impact on firm performance. We introduce imported inputs into a model of R&D and endogenous productivity, and show that R&D and international sourcing are complementary activities. Exploiting the introduction of an R&D tax credit in Norway in 2002, we find that cheaper R&D stimulated not only R&D investments but also imports of intermediates, quantitatively consistent with the model. An implication of our work is that improved access to imported inputs promotes R&D investments and, ultimately, technological change.