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Faculty of Economics

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S, Minkyu.

The impact of trade on R&D: Evidence from UK firms

CWPE2151

Abstract: Using matched UK administrative data, this paper examines how global trade expansion during 2002-2011 affected R&D investment of British firms. We find that Chinese import competition significantly discouraged firm R&D. Booming export demand, by contrast, stimulated their innovation efforts, mitigating the adverse competition effect. Our findings further reveal heterogeneity. More productive firms increased R&D spending by more in response to foreign demand. Exporting firms were less hurt by Chinese penetration than non-exporters. These together indicate the uneven consequences of globalization over the past decades for firm innovation, more detrimental to domestic and less profitable firms.

Keywords: R&D, Chinese competition, Export demand, Firm-level trade

JEL Codes: F14 F60 O31

PDF: https://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/research-files/repec/cam/pdf/cwpe2151.pdf

Open Access Link: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.79588