The Impact of Product and Process Innovations on Productivity: A Review of Empirical Studies

Abstract

This article draws attention to insufficient research interest in the empirical assessments of the impact of product and process innovations (PPI) on economic performance. The analysis of the relevant studies for 2000–2022 found significant international and intersectoral differentiation of the considered linkages between innovation and productivity. It revealed limitations for the meaningful interpretation of the array of results accumulated in the literature. The author emphasizes the importance of an integrated multi-perspective approach to assessing the possible impact of PPI on various aspects of enterprise and industry performance when planning public innovation policy. For example, minor product innovations can make a tangible positive contribution to a company’s sales growth, but have no impact on labor productivity at all. The impact of a radical resource-saving process innovation will look doubtful if it is evaluated only on a short time interval. The author concludes that it is expedient to revise established views on industrial technological innovations and develop new approaches to their measurement.