Liberalisation and R&D in network industries: The case of the electricity industry

Tooraj Jamasb () and Michael Gerald Pollitt ()

Research Policy, 2008, vol. 37, issue 6-7, pages 995-1008

Abstract: Electricity sector liberalisation has coincided with a significant decline in R&D spending. This paper reviews the industrial organisation literature on R&D and innovation to explore the likely causes of the decline in R&D spending in the electricity sector. Meanwhile, R&D productivity and innovative outputs in utilities and equipment suppliers appear to have improved. However, a lasting decline in R&D expenditure can have a negative long-term effect on technological progress and innovation in the sector. We conclude that the decline in R&D could have been predicted from the literature. We also discuss the need to reorient the post-liberalisation technology policy.

Date: 2008
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:37:y:2008:i:6-7:p:995-1008

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