The Daily Stat from Harvard Business Review

 

March 19, 2015 Companies That Are More Politically Active Innovate More The U.S. companies that contribute to the largest numbers of Congressional candidates produce significantly more patent applications than those that contribute to the least numbers of candidates, according to a team led by Alexei V. Ovtchinnikov of HEC Paris. The effect is so large that it outweighs the impact of company size, which prior research has shown to be one of the most dominant determinants of firm innovation. The effect is causal, the researchers found: Greater political activism causes greater innovation, possibly because it allows firms to reduce political uncertainty and thus invest more in new ideas. SOURCE: Political activism and firm innovation

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR TOOLS: Return on Investment (ROI) HBR Press Toolkit Book Whether you are a ROI novice or just need a refresher, HBR's Return on Investment (ROI) Tool will help you master the key fundamentals of ROI and perform ROI analysis on your next project. Calculating ROI doesn't have to be stressful or time consuming. HBR's Return on Investment Tool delivers expert content, detailed examples, and customizable templates to help you make smart and informed investment decisions for your company. Written and developed by Joe Knight, the bestselling author of Financial Intelligence, HBR's Return on Investment Tool delivers a comprehensive overview of the key concepts, terms, and models for calculating ROI with detailed examples plus customizable excel templates to help you successfully perform ROI analysis for your own project. The tool provides 1) A detailed guide to the four methods for ROI analysis 2) In-depth models that show you how ROI works for two different projects, 3) Excel spreadsheets that walk you through the models with detailed examples and 4) Customizable excel templates to help you calculate ROI for your own project. Buy Now

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case Ebook + Tools HBR Press Book This enhanced eBook version of the HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case includes downloadable tools and templates to help you get started on your own case right away. You've got a great idea that will increase profitability or productivity – but how do you get approval for the budget and resources to make it happen? By building a business case that clearly shows your idea's value. Available exclusively through HBR.org. Buy Now

ADVERTISEMENT

HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | TOPICS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2015 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)