Firm Productivity, innovation and Financial Development

Download or read book Firm Productivity, innovation and Financial Development written by Ms.Genevieve Verdier and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2010-02-01 with total page 37 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How do firm-specific actions-in particular, innovation-affect firm productivity? And what is the role of the financial sector in facilitating higher productivity? Using a rich firm-level dataset, we find that innovation is crucial for firm performance as it directly and measurably increases productivity. Moreover, its effects on productivity are mediated through the financial sector; firms reap the maximum benefits from innovation in countries with well-developed financial sectors. This effect is particularly important for firms in high-tech sectors, which typically have higher external financing needs.