Keep or disrupt the rhythm? The effect of political connections on R&D irregularity
研究不同类型政治关联（官僚型与成就型）如何影响中国民营企业研发投入的时间节奏，发现官僚型关联导致研发投入不规则，而成就型关联则有助于保持规律性，且地方官员更替会削弱这两种效应。
Most research on the effect of political connections on firms' R&D investments has focused on aggregate amounts, overlooking temporal patterns. We introduce a temporal perspective. Specifically, we examine how different types of political connection (i.e., ascribed bureaucratic connections and achieved political connections) distinctively influence R&D irregularity—that is, the uneven timing of R&D investments—and we clarify the tension between firms’ intentions to ensure continuity of R&D activities and the disruptions introduced by political and administrative processes. Based on investment patterns (2007–2016) of a large sample of privately owned, listed firms in China, we found that, in firms with ascribed bureaucratic connections, behaviors of former state bureaucrats may be different from those of other corporate executives, leading to disruptions in regular R&D investments. In contrast, firms with achieved political connections are more likely to keep regular R&D investments, due to close alignment of state and corporate goals. City-level politician turnover weakens both effects. Our study contributes significantly to the literature of strategic rhythm, political connections, and organizational learning.