Authors:

  • Josh Lerner
  • Ramana Nanda

Excerpt

May 14, 2020, Paper, "Governments worldwide have taken steps to bolster their venture capital sectors in response to the COVID-19 crisis. This column questions whether venture-backed innovation is particularly vulnerable to economic downturns, and finds that early-stage venture investment falls sharply during recessions. The quantity and quality of venture-backed innovation declines particularly for early-stage firms, underscoring the concerns that motivate such policy initiatives. Still, questions remain about the optimal design and public return of these expenditures."

Non-HKS Author Websites - Josh Lerner and Ramana Nanda