The Role of Basic Research and Experimental Development in Economic Growth:Scale Expansion or Quality Improvement?
Zhao Binbin1,2
1. Institutes of Science and Development,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100190,China; 2. School of Public Policy and Management,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
Abstract：Based on the perspective of heterogeneous R&D,this paper analyzes the impact of basic research and experimental development on the scale and quality of China's economic growth and corresponding transmission mechanism.This paper uses panel data from 30 provinces in China from 1998 to 2020 to study the relationship between different types of R&D activity and economic growth.The results show that:①Both basic research and experimental development can significantly promote the expansion of the economic scale and the improvement of quality.However,the effect of experimental development during the sample period is greater than that of basic research;②The impact of current investment of basic research and experimental development on economic growth exhibits a time lag.The average lag years for basic research and experimental development on the scale of economic growth are 7 and 2 years,while the lag years for the quality of economic growth are 11 and 7 years,respectively;③The mechanisms through which basic research and experimental development influence the quality of economic growth differ.Basic research enhances economic growth quality through technological advancements,while experimental development does so by boosting technical and scale efficiency.The research conclusions provide further empirical evidence for government to adjust its R&D investment policies.
赵彬彬. 基础研究和试验发展在经济增长中的角色:规模扩张抑或质量提升[J]. 中国科技论坛, 2025(3): 19-30.
Zhao Binbin. The Role of Basic Research and Experimental Development in Economic Growth:Scale Expansion or Quality Improvement?. , 2025(3): 19-30.
2025, 
