Wharton Assistant Professor Thomas Winberry discusses how financially constrained firms must balance investing in existing ideas versus pursuing new ones. The podcast explores the impact of financial frictions on growth, the relationship between frictions and policies, and the implications of reducing frictions for firm growth.
Firms face a trade-off between investing in existing ideas and pursuing new ones due to financial constraints.
Financial frictions hinder firms from obtaining external financing promptly, impacting growth rates and economy positively.
Deep dives
Impact of Existing Projects versus New Ideas
Research findings suggest that existing projects are easier to fund than new ideas, impacting the investment landscape significantly. The growth of developed economies like the U.S. heavily relies on purposeful innovation decisions. Firms need financing for innovation activities like research and development, but must also consider investing in physical capital for scaling up production.
Competition Between Investment and Innovation
A trade-off exists between high-risk, high-return innovation activities and less risky yet limited scale investments in physical capital. Small firms tend to focus more on scaling up existing ideas due to lower risk, while larger firms with higher net worth lean towards innovation. This balance affects the growth strategies adopted by firms.
Macroeconomic Impact and Policy Implications
Financial frictions hinder firms' ability to obtain external financing promptly, resulting in slower growth rates. Removing these frictions could lead to significantly higher growth rates, impacting the economy positively. Government policies such as tax credits for R&D or investment can stimulate growth by incentivizing innovation and optimal scaling of projects.
Wharton Assistant Professor Thomas Winberry joins the show to discuss his recent study, which reveals that financially constrained firms face a trade-off between investing in existing ideas and pursuing new ones.