The Policy Diffusion of the State R&D Investment Tax Credit

Abstract

Since the first U.S. state adopted the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit in the early 1980s, the policy has spread to most of the other states. The diffusion continues with numerous modifications and enhancements to the basic R&D tax credit. This study examines the diffusion of the R&D investment tax credit using event history analysis supported by qualitative research. The conclusions of the research are that the R&D tax credit is an economic development approach associated with an existing manufacturing base and implementation is aided by political factors. Adjacent state competition does not appear to lead toward adoption. Applying these findings to the current literature on the effectiveness of the state R&D tax credits highlights the need for thorough policy evaluation before the adoption of tax credits as part of an economic development program.