R&D Tax Incentive Reforms Around the World

Abstract

Many countries have implemented R&D tax incentives to encourage R&D activities and foster innovation, yet their net economic benefits remain unclear. Using a novel hand-collected dataset of global R&D tax reforms and a difference-in-differences approach, we find that these reforms positively impact firm value. The effect is stronger for more generous reforms, those that adopt R&D tax super-deductions, in countries with less developed stock markets and stronger external monitoring, in R&D oriented industries, and for financially constrained firms. We also show that R&D tax incentives enhance firm value by increasing the quantity, quality, and efficiency of innovation. Furthermore, R&D tax incentives outperform patent boxes in enhancing firm value. Additionally, the two tax regimes complement each other, with this complementary effect driven by super-deduction reforms. Our findings shed light on the role of global R&D tax reforms in promoting firm value, suggesting their potential to foster long-term economic benefits. Show more