Companies learning to innovate in recessions

Abstract

Innovating in downturns can affect corporate success by improving a firm’s position relative to competitors during the recovery period. However, increased uncertainty and more binding financial constraints complicate such innovation activity. I find that past experience with innovation during recessions improves a firm’s ability to invest in R&D when a new downturn hits. This result holds controlling for traditional drivers of innovation as cumulated innovations and financial constraints, as well as mitigating endogeneity and selection concerns. Moreover, I find that past experience with innovation during recessions is beneficial to patent outcomes after a new recession. Overall, the paper provides novel evidence on how business cycles shape innovative capabilities.