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Intangible resources and firms' innovation performance: empirical evidence from Chinese firms

Xiuyuan Fang, Marshall S. Jiang, Yugang Li

European Journal of Innovation Management

ISSN: 1460-1060

Article publication date: 27 September 2021

Issue publication date: 8 March 2023

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Abstract

Purpose

Intangible resources (IRs) play an important role in enterprise innovation; previous studies find inconsistent results (positive and negative). The authors develop and test a framework to analyze IRs to see whether and how to impact firm innovation performance to reconcile the conflicting results.

Design/methodology/approach

This study empirically examined the curvilinear effect of IRs and innovation performance (IP) based on data from the Annual Census of Chinese Industrial Enterprises. The moderating effect of institutional development (ID) and state ownership (SO) in the relationship between firms' IRs and IP was also examined.

Findings

It was found that there is a U-shaped relationship between IRs and IP. Moreover, the institutional development weakens the U-shaped relationship.

Originality/value

The U-shaped relationship explains the inconsistent results in previous studies. It offers some important implications for managers and policymakers, who must understand the role of IRs.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and the editorial team for their insightful suggestions and warm works.

Funding: This study is supported by MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (Project No. 20YJA630039).

Citation

Fang, X., Jiang, M.S. and Li, Y. (2023), "Intangible resources and firms' innovation performance: empirical evidence from Chinese firms", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 347-363. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-04-2021-0197

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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