Resumen de The role of learning in firm R&D persistence

Juan Antonio Máñez Castillejo, María Engracia Rochina Barrachina, Amparo Sanchis Llopis, Juan Alberto Sanchis Llopis

• This paper analyses the role of learning in the persistence of the firms’ decision to perform R&D activities using firm level panel data. We estimate discrete time proportional hazard models accounting both for firm observed and unobserved heterogeneity. The data used is a panel of Spanish manufacturing firms drawn from the Encuesta sobre Estrategias Empresariales, for the period 1990-2000. After controlling for other firm and industry characteristics that might have an effect on firm persistence in R&D activities, we find that learning from R&D performance affects persistence in R&D activities.