nep-cse New Economics Papers
on Economics of Strategic Management
Issue of 2020‒06‒15
six papers chosen by
João José de Matos Ferreira
Universidade da Beira Interior

  1. Drivers of farm performance: Empirical country case studies By Johannes Sauer; Catherine Moreddu
  2. Regional patterns of unrelated technological diversification: the role of academic inventors. By Quatraro, Francesco; Scandura, Alessandra
  3. Innovation Activities in Prewar Japan: Patent Bibliographic Information Database (Japanese) By INOUE Hiroyasu; OKAZAKI Tetsuji; SAITO Yukiko; NAKAJIMA Kentaro
  4. Innovative Management of a University By Zbigniew Makie?a; Katarzyna Szczepa?ska-Woszczyna; Magdalena Makie?a
  5. Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Energy Sector By David Popp; Jacquelyn Pless; Ivan Haščič; Nick Johnstone
  6. The growing digital divide in Europe and the United States By Désirée Rückert; Reinhilde Veugelers; Christoph Weiss

  1. By: Johannes Sauer (Technical University of Munich); Catherine Moreddu (OECD)
    Abstract: This report contains an empirical analysis of the productivity and sustainability performance of different types of farms in thirteen countries. Farm productivity performance is measured through estimates of average productivity levels and through annual rates of technical change. Evidence on the environmental sustainability of farm groups is based on an index that reflects environmental pressure per hectare and the local environmental sustainability of production practices. In addition to environmental sustainability, the analysis also considers fundamental differences across farms with respect to farm structure, innovation of operations, individual characteristics as well as farm location. Productivity performance by farm classes is related to the environmental sustainability performance and to other farm characteristics in order to shed light on the factors that drive or impede farm performance. Empirically identifying the main conditions for and obstacles to performance improvement supports the development of effective and efficient policies targeting the performance of farms. This analysis contributes in particular to a better understanding of the synergies and trade-offs between productivity and environmental sustainability performance.
    Keywords: agricultural policy, agriculture, drivers of performance, environmental sustainability, farm structure, innovation, productivity, technical change, technology
    JEL: D24 O31 O33 Q12 Q18
    Date: 2020–06–08
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:agraaa:143-en&r=all
  2. By: Quatraro, Francesco; Scandura, Alessandra (University of Turin)
    Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between the involvement of academic inventors in local innovation dynamics and the patterns of regional technological diversification. Based on the combination of the evolutionary economic approach and the theories on regional innovation capabilities, and on the distinctive features of academic inventors, we hypothesise that knowledge spillovers accruing from the participation of university scientists to local patenting activity influence the extent of regional technological diversification. In addition, we posit that the involvement of academic inventors mitigates the path dependency engendered by the constraining role of the existing capabilities. The empirical results highlight the key role of academic institutions for the development of regional technological trajectories while contributing to the academic and policy debate on regional diversification strategies.
    Date: 2020–05
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uto:dipeco:202010&r=all
  3. By: INOUE Hiroyasu; OKAZAKI Tetsuji; SAITO Yukiko; NAKAJIMA Kentaro
    Abstract: Using patent information to understand the role of innovation in the process of industrialization in Japan, we examined paper documents and constructed a patent bibliographic information database from 1910 to 1945, which mainly consists of the prewar period. In this paper, we report the database construction method and the descriptive analysis using the database, especially from the viewpoint of the geographical distribution and collaboration pattern of innovation activities. We find the following results. First, patent applications are already concentrated in metropolitan areas, especially in Tokyo, from 1910. Second, patents categorized to technology class with higher technology tend to be more concentrated. While the number of collaborating patents are smaller compared to current numbers in 2020, the average number of collaborators increased from 1.1 to 1.5 during this period. The average number of collaborators for patents filed by foreigners is also lager and also increased during this period.
    Date: 2020–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:rpdpjp:20012&r=all
  4. By: Zbigniew Makie?a (Institute of Economics, Finance and Management, Jagiellonian University); Katarzyna Szczepa?ska-Woszczyna (WSB University, D?browa Górnicza); Magdalena Makie?a (Kancelaria Adwokacka, Kraków)
    Abstract: The transformation of universities from the classic model to the entrepreneurial university and later to the innovative university is the stimulator for the creation of a knowledge society providing the foundation for an economy based on knowledge. This process is the effect of internal disputes running between traditionalists and pragmatists at universities. Among the traditionalists there is a conviction that knowledge is of a theoretical dimension that comes down to the value of discovery, retention and conveyance of knowledge in its own right. The aim of the herein paper is to conduct an analysis of the process of innovative management of a university, while also to define the innovative features of a university and the principles of management of a university of the third generation.The effect of the pilot research conducted is the proposal of the model of the university of the third generation, whose development is generated by constant innovation, cooperation with the economy, while also social partners and civic society.
    Keywords: Management of university, Innovative university, Knowledge university, Network cooperation
    JEL: M10 M19 I25
    Date: 2020–02
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:ibmpro:10112460&r=all
  5. By: David Popp; Jacquelyn Pless; Ivan Haščič; Nick Johnstone
    Abstract: Historically, innovation in the energy sector proceeded slowly and entrepreneurial start-up firms played a relatively minor role. We argue that this may be changing. Energy markets are going through a period of profound structural change. The rise of hydrofracturing lowered fossil fuel prices so much that natural gas is now the primary fuel for electricity generation in the US. Renewable energy technologies also experienced significant cost and performance improvements. However, integrating intermittent resources creates additional grid management challenges, requiring further innovation. This chapter documents the evolving roles of innovation and entrepreneurship in the energy sector. First, we provide an overview of the energy industry, highlighting that many new energy technologies are smaller, modular, and increasingly rely on innovation in other fast-moving high-tech sectors. We then conduct two descriptive data analyses that document a sharp decline in both clean energy patenting and start-up activity from about 2010 onwards. We discuss potential explanations and provide some evidence that while innovation in existing technologies may simply have been successful, continued innovation will be needed in enabling technologies that are more likely to depend on progress in other sectors.
    JEL: O31 Q4 Q42 Q55
    Date: 2020–05
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27145&r=all
  6. By: Désirée Rückert; Reinhilde Veugelers; Christoph Weiss
    Abstract: Using a new survey on digitalisation activities of firms in the EU and the US, we identify digitalisation profiles based on the current use of digital technologies and future investment plans in digitalisation. Our analysis confirms the trend toward digital polarisation and a growing digital divide in the corporate landscape with, on one side, many firms that are not digitally active, and on the other side, a substantial number of digitally active firms forging ahead. Old small firms, with less than 50 employees and more than 10 years old, are significantly more likely to be persistently digitally non-active. We show that these persistently non-digital firms are less likely to be innovative, increase employment or command higher mark-ups. These trends are likely to exacerbate the digital divide across firms in the EU and the US.
    Keywords: digital technology, investment, firm performance
    Date: 2020–05–18
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ete:msiper:654659&r=all

This nep-cse issue is ©2020 by João José de Matos Ferreira. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranty. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part for any purpose. If distributed in part, please include this notice.
General information on the NEP project can be found at http://nep.repec.org. For comments please write to the director of NEP, Marco Novarese at <director@nep.repec.org>. Put “NEP” in the subject, otherwise your mail may be rejected.
NEP’s infrastructure is sponsored by the School of Economics and Finance of Massey University in New Zealand.