A quantile regression analysis of the role of R&D spillovers at firm level

The aim of this paper is to analyse the role played by knowledge spillovers in the firm productivity of two European countries, namely France and Italy. A quantile regression approach has been used to investigate the spillovers-productivity nexus across countries and quantiles. Moreover, in order to distinguish between the different sources of knowledge spillovers, a distinction is made between R&D spillovers from firms in the same sector and geographical region, same sector but different regions and the same geographical area but different sectors. Results suggest heterogeneity across countries and quantiles.