Start-up subsidies: Does the policy instrument matter?

Hanna Hottenrott and Robert Richstein

Research Policy, 2020, vol. 49, issue 1

Abstract: New knowledge-intensive firms contribute to innovation, competition, and employment growth, but externalities like knowledge spillovers can prevent entrepreneurs from appropriating the full returns from their investments. In addition, uncertainty and information asymmetry pose challenges for financing. Public policy programs therefore aim to support start-ups. This study evaluates the effects of participation in such programs on the performance of start-ups in high-tech and knowledge-intensive sectors that were founded in Germany between 2005 and 2012. Distinguishing between grants and subsidized loans and after matching recipients and non-recipients based on a broad set of founder and company characteristics, we find that both grants and subsidized loans facilitate tangible investment, employment and revenue growth. Grants are, however, better suited to increasing R&D investments than loans are. Combined with grants, subsidized loans facilitate turning research results into marketable products by means of investments in tangible assets. Start-ups that participate in both types of programs outperform grant-only recipients in terms of innovation performance, employment and future revenues. Finally, program participation does not crowd out private venture capital.

Keywords: Financing constraints; Subsidies; R&D; High-tech start-ups; Innovation policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G32 H25 O38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (32)

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Working Paper: Start-up Subsidies: Does the Policy Instrument Matter? (2019)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:49:y:2020:i:1:s0048733319302069

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2019.103888

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