Ownership structure, board of directors and R&D investments: Evidence from France

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze the impact of the characteristics related to the ownership structure and board of directors, as mechanisms of governance, on the research and development (R&D) intensity. The study carried out on a sample of French companies belonging to the SBF 250 index shows that ownership concentration and duality of chief executive officer and chairman roles have no significant effect on the R & D intensity. The board sizes as well as the proportion of inside directors in the board have a positive and significant effect on R & D intensity. However, the participation of outside directors in capital tends to urge managers to reduce R&D investment level.