R&D, Innovation and Growth – empirical analyses on Swedish micro-level data

A large share of the cumulated knowledge of innovations and their consequences is based on case studies and longitudinal studies of individual firms and sectors, with contributions from economic history, history of science and technology and the like. In economics, empirical research was initially focused on the so-called Solow residual with contributions of Jan Tinbergen as early as 1942 and Denison’s growth accounting in the 1960s. In recent decades the research efforts have moved in the direction of micro-level studies, partly following initiatives by Mansfield in the 1960s. During 1980s and 1990s new aggregate growth models were developed, allowing for approaches to examine the interdependencies between R&D, knowledge accumulation and economic growth.

This research project aims at conducting empirical analyses of the relationship between R&D, innovation and growth using Swedish micro-level data. It comprises a close collaboration between Martin Andersson and Sara Johansson at CESIS, and Olof Ejermo and Astrid Kander at CIRCLE. The research carried out within the project has a bearing on three overall research questions: (i) firm attributes and R&D productivity, (ii) time lags between R&D investments and innovation output, (iii) technology and knowledge diffusion among firms and sectors.

The project runs for three years and is financed by VINNOVA. For more information, contact Martin Andersson or Sara Johansson.