Do Low Interest Rates Harm Innovation, Competition, and Productivity Growth?

López-Salido, J David, Jonathan E Goldberg and Craig Chikis

No 16184, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: The answer to this question crucially depends on the nature of creative destruction. In Schumpeterian models, if innovation by market laggards only incrementally refines their existing technology, then, as the interest rate falls to very low levels, growth declines with low-R&D market leaders becoming entrenched. However, if market laggards have some chance to innovate radically and immediately catch up to the leading technology, low interest rates boost productivity growth. Using micro data, we structurally estimate a Schumpeterian model that nests these alternative possibilities. In the estimated model, laggards have a meaningful chance to innovate radically, implying that low interest rates increase growth and market competition. Incorporating firm entry, optimal patent policy, and financial frictions strengthens our results.

Keywords: Real interest rate; Innovation; Growth; Markups (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E2 O31 O34 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-05
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