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on Economics of Strategic Management |
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Issue of 2011‒10‒01
ten papers chosen by Joao Jose de Matos Ferreira University of the Beira Interior |
| By: | Siedschlag, Iulia; Killeen, Neil; Smith, Donal; O'Brien, Catriona |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the relationship between the internationalisation of firms in services and their innovation performance. We use firm-level data over the period 2004- 2006 and estimate an augmented structural model to account for the role of foreign direct investment and exporting on the innovation performance of services firms in Ireland. Our research shows that in comparison to firms serving only the Irish market, domestic exporters were more likely to engage in R&D and innovation and they were more likely to be successful in terms of innovation output, over and above firm characteristics such as size and distance to the technology frontier. Further, we find that adoption of information and communication technologies was positively associated with innovation output. Co-operation with suppliers was positively associated with all innovation types, while knowledge flows from customers and from the government or public research institutes were positively linked to product innovation. Co-operation with universities was positively linked to innovation measured by patents. |
| Keywords: | Multinational Firms/Exporting/Knowledge Production/Services |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esr:wpaper:wp406&r=cse |
| By: | Olczyk, Magdalena |
| Abstract: | The aim of the study is to analyze the actual demand of SMEs from the Baltic Sea region for innovation support. The results of the conducted study can help formulate recommendations designed to increase innovation and competitiveness of SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region in the future. Research activities of this study include: the evaluation of innovation level of the Baltic Sea Region enterprises (type and intensity of implemented innovation changes, innovation climate, barriers in innovation implementation in enterprises), the study of SMEs cooperation with scientific subjects, R&D sphere; and the identification of the needs of enterprises to do with the increase of their innovation capacities (demand for training, consulting, cooperation with universities and R&D sphere, or cooperation in a cluster). |
| Keywords: | innovation; SME; Baltic region |
| JEL: | O31 D01 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:33657&r=cse |
| By: | Azagra-Caro, Joaquín M.; Mas-Verdú, Francisco; Martinez-Gomez, Victor |
| Abstract: | Young innovative companies (YICs) are attracting attention in their role of industry regenerators. However, we have little information about their relations with universities as sources of information. This paper explores university-industry interaction involving YIC in the Valencian Community, using YIC founders? personal attributes and motivations as explanatory variables. The Valencian Community has a relatively high degree of university-industry interaction, but surprisingly little technological innovation. A survey of YICs in the region shows that, in their case, firm size does not affect the probability of contracting with universities, and that R&D intensity is not significant if we consider firm founders? personal characteristics and motivations. YIC founders exploiting market opportunities recognized in previous business activities, and necessity entrepreneurs, are the least likely to interact with universities. We highlight the role of external advisory services to highlight the benefits of universities. |
| Keywords: | Young innovative companies; University-industry interaction; Motivations; Valencian Community |
| JEL: | O32 |
| Date: | 2011–09–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ing:wpaper:201107&r=cse |
| By: | Bergman, Karin (Department of Economics, Lund University); Ejermo, Olof (CIRCLE) |
| Abstract: | Sweden has seen a rise in business R&D-intensities and dependence on exports to make its economy grow since the early 1990s. This paper examines the role of foreign sales in stimulating R&D as compared to a domestic sales effect, and finds, in line with the literature, that R&D rises proportionally to sales in cross-sections from 1991 to 2001. Among manufacturing firms, foreign sales are distinctly more associated with an increase in R&D than domestic sales. For service firms, domestic sales are as important as foreign. The results are consistent with the hypotheses that manufacturing firms more easily separate production from R&D, economize on transport costs and are subject to learning-by-exporting effects. In general, the results highlight the dependence on openness in stimulating R&D in a small economy, especially among manufacturing firms. |
| Keywords: | R&D; size; exports; Sweden |
| JEL: | L23 O32 |
| Date: | 2011–09–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lunewp:2011_026&r=cse |
| By: | Rui Nuno Baleiras (Universidade do Minho - NIPE) |
| Abstract: | This is an article on policy instrument design wholly embodied in the state of the art endogenous regional development theory. The family of Collective Efficiency Strategies (CES) was originally con-ceived in Portugal during the 2005/2009 legislative term and is very much replicable in other geogra-phies and socio-economic environments, in emerging as well as in developed territories. They matter to deliver competitiveness and jobs by boosting business links among partnership members. Firms are indispensable to operate these networks but many other private, social and public agents whose action helps to internalise agglomeration and network externalities are also welcome. Four types of CES were launched, each aiming to address specific development bottlenecks: Growth and Competitiveness Poles, Other Clusters, Urban Regeneration and Development Actions and Programmes for the Economic Enhancement of Endogenous Resources. Taken together, they provide policy action to stimulate trade-oriented knowledge provision, innovation in goods and services or processes, urban economic drivers and sustainable and durable networks of economic activity in low-density territories. Before presenting the CES, the paper provides the relevant theoretical background. A synthesis of current endogenous regional development models paves the way to introduce the key concept of collective efficiency. Some data on the application country helps to motivate the discussion. |
| Keywords: | collective efficiency; endogenous development; regional development policy; Portugal; NSRF |
| JEL: | L52 L53 O25 R38 R58 |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nip:nipewp:27/2011&r=cse |
| By: | Bergman, Karin (Department of Economics, Lund University) |
| Abstract: | This paper uses a panel of Swedish manufacturing firms to examine the effects of internal and external R&D on total factor productivity over the period 1991-2004. The findings give some support to the notion of complementarity between internal and external R&D, especially in industries with high R&D intensities, and suggest that the employees’ level of education is important for the firm’s capabilities to absorb external R&D. However, external R&D is generally found to have a negative effect on productivity and internal R&D is only significant when not including interaction terms between internal R&D and external R&D or human capital. |
| Keywords: | Internal R&D; external R&D; productivity; Sweden |
| JEL: | D24 L24 O32 |
| Date: | 2011–09–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lunewp:2011_027&r=cse |
| By: | Olaf Merk; César Ducruet; Patrick Dubarle; Elvira Haezendonck; Michael Dooms |
| Abstract: | This working paper offers an evaluation of the performance of the ports of the Seine Axis (Le Havre, Rouen, Caen and Paris), as well as an analysis of the impact of the ports on their territory and an assessment of policies and governance in this field. It examines declining port performance in the last decade and identifies the principal factors that have contributed to it. In addition, the report studies the potential for synergies between the different ports, and surveys impending developments that are likely to influence port performance. The effect of the ports on economic, social and environmental questions is studied and quantified where possible. The value added of the port cluster of Le Havre/Rouen is calculated and its interlinkages with other economic sectors and other regions in France delineated. The paper outlines the impact of the ports' operations, and shows how their activities spill over into other regions. The major policies governing the ports are assessed, along with policies governing transport and economic development, innovation, the environment and spatial planning. These include measures instituted by the port authorities, as well as by local, regional and national governments. Governance mechanisms at these different levels are described and analysed. A port reform package, implemented in 2011, has changed the roles of the principal actors within the ports, and initiatives at the regional level have been intensified. Based on the report's findings, recommendations are proposed with a view to improving port performance and increasing the positive effects of the ports on their territory. |
| Keywords: | transportation, ports, regional development, regional growth, urban growth, inter-regional trade, input-output |
| JEL: | D57 L91 R11 R12 R15 R41 |
| Date: | 2011–09–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:govaab:2011/7-en&r=cse |
| By: | Ortega-Argilés, Raquel (IN+ Center for Innovation); Piva, Mariacristina (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore); Vivarelli, Marco (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between a firm's R&D expenditures considered as an investment in knowledge, and its productivity, looking at sectoral peculiarities which may emerge; to this end, we use a large unique longitudinal database consisting of 1,809 US and European manufacturing and service firms over the period 1990-2008, for a total of 16,079 observations. Our main findings can be summarised as follows: knowledge stock has a significant positive impact on a firm's productivity, with an overall elasticity of about 0.10; this general result is largely consistent with findings presented in previous literature in terms of the sign, the significance and the estimated magnitude of the relevant coefficient. More interestingly, the coefficient turns out to be significantly larger in the service and high-tech sectors than in the non-high-tech manufacturing sectors. These outcomes suggest that firms in high-tech sectors are still ahead in terms of the impact on productivity of their R&D investments; moreover, a shift in favour of the service sectors seems to emerge. |
| Keywords: | R&D, productivity, knowledge stock, panel data |
| JEL: | O33 L25 |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5975&r=cse |
| By: | Dessi, Roberta (IDEI, Toulouse School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | Innovative start-ups and venture capitalists are highly clustered, benefiting from localized spillovers: Silicon Valley is perhaps the best example. There is also substantial geographical variation in venture capital contracts: California contracts are more "incomplete". This paper proposes an economic explanation for these observations, often attributed to regional cultural differences. In the presence of significant spillovers, it becomes optimal for an innovative start-up and its financier to adopt contracts with fewer contingencies: these contracts maximize their ability to extract (part of) the surplus they generate through positive spillovers. This relaxes ex-ante financing constraints and makes it possible to induce higher innovative effort. |
| JEL: | D82 D86 G24 L22 |
| Date: | 2011–09–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ide:wpaper:24941&r=cse |
| By: | Hossam Zeitoun; Margit Osterloh |
| Abstract: | The relationships between an organization and its stakeholders -- such as shareholders, employees, customers, and suppliers -- are characterized by an abundance of incomplete contracts. In this paper, we distinguish different types of stakeholder relations depending on how the organization supports its incomplete contracts with stakeholders. We explore how formal institutions (corporate law and organizational arrangements) as well as informal institutions (social norms) influence the type of stakeholder relations in order to assess in a systematic way the diversity of corporate governance arrangements that deal with incomplete contracts. |
| Date: | 2011–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cra:wpaper:2011-19&r=cse |