R&D Subsidy, Government Procurement and Regional Technology Innovation: Research from the Perspective of New Structural Economics

Abstract

Abstract: Exploring the influence mechanism of supply-side and demand-side policy tools, and analyzing the effect of differentiation by applying localization theories such as new structural economics is an important attempt to optimize the innovation-driven mechanism based on China’s context. In this paper, we explore the mechanism of how policy tools influence regional technology innovation from the perspective of new structural economics using provincial-level data from 2001 to 2019. Based on quantile regression method, this paper describes the differential effects of R&D subsidies and government procurement on regional technology innovation, examines the heterogeneous effects of government procurement on regional technology innovation by subdividing item structure, and analyzes the moderating effects of factor endowment structure on the relationship between policy tools and regional technology innovation. The results show that there is a significant difference between the supply-side and demand-side policy tools, R&D subsidy has an inverted U-shaped impact on regional technology innovation, and government procurement has a significant positive impact on regional technology innovation. Two policy tools have significant effects on technology innovation of regional differences. Seen from the perspective of new structural economic theory, factor endowment strengthens the inverted U-shaped relationship between R&D subsidy and technology innovation in eastern China, but negatively moderates the positive relationship between government procurement and technology innovation in central and western China. The coupling degree between procurement items and factor endowment affects regional technology innovation performance. The research conclusions of this paper provide a deeper insight into the mechanism of how policy tools influence regional technology innovation, and enrich the technology innovation research based on new structural economics.

Key words: regional technology innovation, R&D subsidy, government procurement, new structural economics, quantile regression

Xiao Dingding, He Binghan, Zhang Qian. R&D Subsidy, Government Procurement and Regional Technology Innovation: Research from the Perspective of New Structural Economics[J]. Management Review, 2025, 37(3): 111-122.

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