The effectiveness of investment subsidies: evidence from a regression discontinuity design

Stefaan Decramer () and Stijn Vanormelingen
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Stefaan Decramer: KU Leuven

Small Business Economics, 2016, vol. 47, issue 4, No 10, 1007-1032

Abstract: Abstract This paper analyzes the effects of an investment subsidy program for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Flanders from 2004 to 2009. The subsidies were awarded according to a ranking system that favored young, growing and productive firms with a strong cash flow, granting subsidies to the highest scoring firms until the depletion of funds. The nature of this allocation system creates a sharp cutoff in granting the subsidy according to the score, allowing us to estimate the causal impact of the subsidies using a regression discontinuity design. We find a positive effect on firm-level investment, employment, output and productivity for the firms that were granted the subsidy, but only for the small firms. However, the effect is small relative to the cost of the subsidy.

Keywords: Investment subsidies; Policy evaluation; Regression discontinuity design; Industrial policy; Small- and medium-sized companies; C10; H71; O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (41)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11187-016-9749-2

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