An 'incentive subsidy' policy for subsidizing private R & D is proposed that can be more efficient, from a social point of view, than subsidy policies in common use such as a 'normal' subsidy policy (fixed amount granted at project start), and conditional loans (loan is repaid only if project is...

This paper analyzes a three-stage optimization problem in which a firm chooses (i) its technology, by deciding on a level of R&D, (ii) whether this technology is to be used in a domestic or in a foreign plant and (iii) the quantity produced and sold on the market. If technology transfer costs...

Government subsidized industrial R & D stands for a large and increasing segment of the total R & D conducted. Yet very little is known about the effectiveness of such subsidies. This paper summarizes the empirical literature concerning direct project subsidies, tax credits, and support for...

This paper shows that plant and firm size in manufacturing, and especially in engineering industry, in several Western industrial countries has declined since the early 1970s. Two hypotheses explaining the decline are advanced. One is 'de-glomeration' or specialization: the divestiture of...

Of the diverse factors motivating technological change, one factor that has received increasing attention in the recent past has been the protection of intellectual property rights. Given fairly recent changes in the international policy ethos where a regime of stronger intellectual property...

The paper investigates the impact of ownership concentration on the likelihood that firms are involved in innovative activities or invest in research and development. We find that more dispersed ownership significantly increases the probability that a firm is engaged in innovation or invests in...