The relationship between firm size and R&D expenditure: The mediating role of managerial discretion

The paper introduces managerial discretion as a mediating variable in the relationship between firm size and R & D expenditure. Based on the relevant literature review and theoretical analysis, two hypotheses about the relationship among firm size, managerial discretion and R&D expenditure are proposed. With the data of 213 listed firms revealing R&D expenditure in China, the paper comprehensively adopts the methods of linear estimation, curve estimation and hierarchical regression in empirical analysis, and finally concludes that, (1) managerial discretion is significantly negatively related with firm size; (2) R&D expenditure in fund (RDIF) is positively related with firm size, while R&D expenditure in personnel (RDIP) is slightly negatively related with firm size; and (3) managerial discretion can mediate the relationship between firm size and RDIF, while its mediation effect on the relationship between firm and RDIP is insignificant.