Replication data for: Are Incentives for R&D Effective? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Approach

This paper evaluates a unique R&D subsidy program implemented in northern Italy. Firms were invited to submit proposals for new projects and only those which scored above a certain threshold received the subsidy. We use a sharp regression discontinuity design to compare the investment spending of subsidized firms with that of unsubsidized firms. For the sample as a whole we find no significant increase in investment. This overall effect, however, masks substantial heterogeneity in the program's impact. We estimate that small enterprises increased their investments- by approximately the amount of the subsidy they received- whereas larger firms did not.

本研究评估了一项在意大利北部推行的独特研发补贴（R&D subsidy）项目。企业受邀提交新项目的申报方案，仅有评审得分高于特定阈值的企业方能获得该补贴。我们采用清晰断点回归设计（Sharp Regression Discontinuity Design），对比获得补贴企业与未获得补贴企业的投资支出情况。就全部样本而言，我们未发现投资存在显著增长。然而这一整体效应掩盖了该项目影响中存在的显著异质性：我们估算显示，小型企业的投资规模实现了约等于其所获补贴金额的增长，而大型企业则未出现此类增长。