Stepping on toes in the production of knowledge: a meta-regression analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Sequeira, TN (Author) Other; Neves, PC (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Applied Economics

Vol. 52

Pages: 260-274

ISSN: 0003-6846

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-XK6

DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2019.1644447

Abstract (EN): Decreasing returns to scale in physical resources in the knowledge production function have been widely considered in the economic growth literature. However, given the heterogeneity of empirical results, it is difficult to assess its magnitude. We provide a meta-analysis of the value of the decreasing returns to physical resources in the knowledge production function (stepping-on-toes effect). This has important policy implications regarding the subsidization of R&D activities and policy measures to enable the diffusion of knowledge. We conclude that there is some evidence of publication bias. Moreover, the average effect size is quite small, around 0.2, which implies a high stepping-on-toes effect. This value tends to be higher when variables related to international linkages are present, resources allocated to R&D are measured by labour, the knowledge pool is proxied by population, and instrumental variable estimation techniques are employed. On the contrary, the average returns to scale estimate decreases when resources allocated to R&D are measured by population and when only rich countries are included in the sample.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15