This paper investigates empirically firm investment behavior in research and development (R&D). Firms make investments in R&D in order to produce innovations. These innovations in turn improve the firm's future productivity level, pro tability and incentives to invest in R&D. Using German...

Communism in East Germany sought to dampen the effect of market forces on firm productivity for nearly 40 years. How did East German firms respond to the free market after being thrust into it in 1990? We use a formal learning model and German business survey data to analyze the lasting impact...