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R&D spillovers and firms' performance in Italy Evidence from a flexible production function

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Spatial Econometrics

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Using a translog production function we estimate the impact of R&D spillovers on the output performance of Italian manufacturing firms over the period 1998–2003. Technological flows are measured through an asymmetric similarity index that takes also into account the geographical proximity of firms.Results show that R&D spillovers positively affect firms production and that geography matters in determining the role of the external technology. Moreover, we find that the effect of R&D spillovers is high in the Centre-South of Italy and that the stock of R&D spillovers is Morishima complement to the stock of R&D own-capital.

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Aiello, F., Cardamone, P. (2009). R&D spillovers and firms' performance in Italy Evidence from a flexible production function. In: Arbia, G., Baltagi, B.H. (eds) Spatial Econometrics. Studies in Empirical Economics. Physica-Verlag HD. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7908-2070-6_8

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