Is China different? A meta-analysis of the growth-enhancing effect from R&D spending in China

- By conducting a meta-analysis we examine whether China has benefited more from spending on R&D than other countries.
- The results suggest that the growth effects of R&D spending in China has been weaker than that of other countries.
- The negative outcome for China particularly pronounced in comparison with other transition- and developed economies.

In this paper we examine whether China has benefited more from spending on R&D than other countries by conducting a meta-analysis of the relevant literature on a large number of countries at different stages of economic development. The results suggest that the growth-enhancing effect of R&D spending in China has been significantly weaker than that of other countries. It is thus unlikely that R&D spending has been successful as a key contributing factor to economic growth in China.