中文摘要
我们研究了产品责任诉讼对领先医疗器械企业推出新产品的影响。我们发现，被告企业以及其他企业（程度较轻）在诉讼年份内降低了在被诉产品类别中推出新产品的倾向。我们还表明，安全监管的变化会影响诉讼发生的可能性。最后，我们表明诉讼导致的潜在福利损失似乎相对有限：新产品推出的下降并非永久性的，不会溢出到被诉类别之外，且诉讼促使企业开发更安全的器械。（JEL D83, K13, L64, O31, O34）
Abstract
We study the impact of product liability litigation on new product introductions by leading medical device firms. We find that the defendant firms, and other firms to a lesser extent, reduce their propensity to introduce new products in the litigated product categories during litigation years. We also show that changes to safety regulation influence the likelihood of litigation. Lastly, we show that the potential welfare loss due to litigation appears relatively contained: The decline in new product introductions is not permanent, it does not spill over beyond the litigated categories, and litigation induces firms to develop safer devices. (JEL D83, K13, L64, O31, O34)