Is public R&D a complement or a substitute for private R&D? This paper revisits this Issue in the recent dynamic general equilibrium model of endogenous innovation. Three main channels through which public R&D affects private R&D spending are identifi...
Is public R&D a complement or a substitute for private R&D? This paper revisits this Issue in the recent dynamic general equilibrium model of endogenous innovation. Three main channels through which public R&D affects private R&D spending are identified to be a knowledge spillover effect, a technology value destruction effect and a resource contraction effect, and the first one is found to have positive effect but the other two to have negative effect. Due to these conflicting effects, the net effect is ambiguous, but mainly depends on the underlying characteristics of country, In particular, in country with larger supply of factors intensively used for R&D but relatively laggard ability in R&D activity and less competitive market structure, public R&D tends to affect private R&D spending positively. Conclusively, we suggest R&D policy boosting public R&D should be preferred in the country characterized in this way, and vice versa.