This article addresses an issue that is debated in the economics of innovation literature, namely the existence of increasing returns to R&D expenditures and firm size, in product innovation. It explores further how the firm's structural characteristics and contextual factors affect the sustained introduction of new components over a relatively long time period. Taking advantage of an original and unique database comprising information on new product announcements by leading semiconductor producers, we show that: (i) decreasing returns to size and R&D expenditures characterize the innovation production function of the sampled firms; (ii) producers operating a larger product portfolio exhibit a higher propensity to introduce new products than their specialized competitors; (iii) aging has positive bearings on the firm's ability to innovate.
Titolo: | R&D, firm size and incremental product innovation |
Autore/i: | CORSINO, MARCO; Espa G.; Micciolo R. |
Autore/i Unibo: | |
Anno: | 2011 |
Rivista: | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2011.562354 |
Abstract: | This article addresses an issue that is debated in the economics of innovation literature, namely the existence of increasing returns to R&D expenditures and firm size, in product innovation. It explores further how the firm's structural characteristics and contextual factors affect the sustained introduction of new components over a relatively long time period. Taking advantage of an original and unique database comprising information on new product announcements by leading semiconductor producers, we show that: (i) decreasing returns to size and R&D expenditures characterize the innovation production function of the sampled firms; (ii) producers operating a larger product portfolio exhibit a higher propensity to introduce new products than their specialized competitors; (iii) aging has positive bearings on the firm's ability to innovate. |
Data prodotto definitivo in UGOV: | 2013-05-10 18:09:10 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.01 Articolo in rivista |