Assessing an experimental approach to industrial policy evaluation:Applying RCT+ to the case of Creative Credits

Abstract

Experimental methods of policy evaluation are well-established in social policy and development eco-nomics but are rare in industrial and innovation policy. In this paper, we consider the arguments forapplying experimental methods to industrial policy measures, and propose an experimental policy eval-uation approach (which we call RCT+). This approach combines the randomised assignment of firmsto treatment and control groups with a longitudinal data collection strategy incorporating quantitativeand qualitative data (so-called mixed methods). The RCT+ approach is designed to provide a causativerather than purely summative evaluation, i.e. to assess both ‘whether’ and ‘how’ programme outcomesare achieved. In this paper, we assess the RCT+ approach through an evaluation of Creative Credits – aUK business-to-business innovation voucher initiative intended to promote new innovation partnershipsbetween SMEs and creative service providers. The results suggest the potential value of the RCT+ approachto industrial policy evaluation, and the benefits of mixed methods and longitudinal data collection.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.04.004
Divisions: College of Business and Social Sciences > Aston Business School > Operations & Information Management
College of Business and Social Sciences > Aston Business School > Work & Organisational Psychology
Additional Information: © 2015, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Funding: Nesta, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the North West Development Agency.
Uncontrolled Keywords: evaluation,experimental,industrial policy,innovation,creative,qualitative research,General Engineering,Management of Technology and Innovation,Strategy and Management,Management Science and Operations Research
Publication ISSN: 0048-7333
Last Modified: 03 Dec 2024 08:08
Date Deposited: 16 Jul 2015 12:10
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2015-10
Published Online Date: 2015-06-08
Authors: Bakhshi, Hasan
Edwards, John S. (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-3979-017X)
Roper, Stephen
Scully, Judy (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-0968-0941)
Shaw, Duncan
Morley, Lorraine
Rathbone, Nicola

Export / Share Citation


Statistics

Additional statistics for this record