One explanation for declining R&D productivity is demise of industrial research labs. We test that explanation using data from U.S. industrial lab directories from 1921 to 1998. We find the number, size and prevalence of labs have all increased rather than declined. Accordingly, we consider the...

One of the key mechanisms of firms' strategic renewal is Ramp;D, and a key driver of the intensity of Ramp;D is industry context. A number of theories develop propositions linking industry factors to firm Ramp;D behavior, but these theories lack consensus. To date empirical tests have been...