Innovation, Industry Equilibrium, and Discount Rates
59 Pages Posted: 22 Jul 2021 Last revised: 27 Jun 2022
Date Written: July 19, 2021
Abstract
We develop a model to examine how discount rates affect the nature and composition of innovation within an industry. Challenging conventional wisdom, we show that higher discount rates do not discourage firm innovation when accounting for the industry equilibrium. Higher discount rates deter fresh entry---effectively acting as entry barriers---but encourage innovation through the intensive margin, which can lead to a higher industry innovation rate on net. Simultaneously, high discount rates foster explorative over exploitative innovation. The model rationalizes observed patterns of innovation cyclicality, and predicts that lower entry in downturns hedges innovating incumbents against higher discount rates.
Keywords: Vertical and horizontal innovation, creative destruction, discount rates, risk premia
JEL Classification: G31, G12, O31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation