|
on Economics of Strategic Management |
|
Issue of 2026–03–02
twelve papers chosen by João José de Matos Ferreira, Universidade da Beira Interior |
| By: | Kuosmanen, Natalia; Kuosmanen, Timo |
| Abstract: | Abstract This brief examines how R&D spillovers are associated with firm-level greenhouse gas emissions in Finnish energy-intensive manufacturing. The results show that R&D spillovers from other firms within the same industry are more strongly associated with lower emissions than the firm’s own R&D activity. This result highlights the role of innovation spillovers and knowledge diffusion in emissions abatement. However, the direction and magnitude of R&D spillovers differ across industries depending on their R&D intensity. In the chemical industry that has high R&D intensity, inter-industry R&D spillovers are associated with lower emissions, whereas in the pulp and paper and basic metals industries, inter-industry R&D spillovers are associated with higher emissions. These results demonstrate that technology spillovers do not automatically lower emissions, but can also contribute to higher emissions. Our findings reveal an important channel of inter-industry R&D spillovers through material flows, highlighting the pivotal role of the chemical industry for the GHG abatement in the pulp and paper production and non-metallic minerals industry. |
| Keywords: | Carbon dioxide emissions, Environmental performance, Green productivity, Sustainability, Technology spillovers |
| JEL: | D24 O33 Q52 Q55 Q56 |
| Date: | 2026–02–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rif:briefs:175 |
| By: | Kuosmanen, Natalia; Kuosmanen, Timo; Zhou, Xun |
| Abstract: | Abstract A structural shift from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable, sustainable energy sources critically depends on research and development (R&D) activities at the firm-level. This study examines the contribution of R&D spillovers from other firms to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Finnish energy-intensive manufacturing industries. We link firm-level GHG emissions to financial and innovation data for 230 firms in the pulp and paper, chemicals, non-metallic minerals, and basic metals industries over 2000–2019. We derive emissions-generating functions based on a directional distance function framework, and estimate them using shape-constrained semiparametric regression. Our key result is that R&D spillovers have a strong statistically significant association with the firm-level GHG emissions. However, the signs and magnitudes of the spillovers differ across industries. In the chemical industry, intra-industry R&D spillover is associated with lower emissions, whereas in the pulp and paper and the basic metals industries, intra-industry R&D spillover is associated with higher emissions. These results demonstrate that R&D spillovers do not self-evidently lower emissions, but can also contribute to higher emissions. Our findings also reveal an important channel of inter-industry R&D spillovers through material flows, highlighting the pivotal role of the chemical industry for the GHG abatement in the pulp and paper production and non-metallic minerals industry. |
| Keywords: | Carbon dioxide emissions, Environmental performance, Green productivity, Sustainability, Technology spillovers |
| JEL: | D24 O33 Q52 Q55 Q56 |
| Date: | 2026–02–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rif:wpaper:136 |
| By: | Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg; Reka Juhasz; Nathan Lane; Giulia Lo Forte; Jeff Thurk; Pinelopi Goldberg |
| Abstract: | The resurgence of subsidies and industrial policies has raised concerns about their potential inefficiency and alignment with multilateral principles. Critics warn that such policies may divert resources to less efficient firms and provoke retaliatory measures from other countries, leading to a wasteful “subsidy race.” However, subsidies for sectors with inherent cross-border externalities can have positive global effects. This paper examines these issues within the semiconductor industry: a key driver of economic growth and innovation with potentially significant learning-by-doing and strategic importance due to its dual-use applications. Our study aims to: (1) document and quantify recent industrial policies in the global semiconductor sector, (2) explore the rationale behind these policies, and (3) evaluate their economic impacts, particularly their cross-border effects, and compatibility with multilateral principles. We employ historical analysis, natural language processing, and a model-based approach to measure government support and its impacts. Our findings indicate that government support has been vital for the industry’s growth, with subsidies being the primary form of support. They also highlight the importance of cross-border technology transfers through FDI, business and research collaborations, and technology licensing. China, despite significant subsidies, does not stand out as an outlier compared to other countries, given its market size. Model estimates suggest the presence of learning-by-doing at the firm-product level as well as economies of scope within a firm and substantial cross-border learning spillovers. These spillovers likely reflect cross-country technology transfers and the role of fabless clients and input suppliers in disseminating knowledge globally through their interactions with foundries. Such cross-border spillovers are not merely accidental but result from deliberate actions by market participants that cannot be taken for granted. Firms may choose to share knowledge across borders or restrict access to frontier technology, thereby excluding certain countries. Future research will use model estimates to simulate the quantitative implications of subsidies and to explore the dynamics of a “subsidy race” in the semiconductor industry. |
| Keywords: | semiconductors, industrial policy, subsidies, learning-by-doing, multilaterism |
| JEL: | F13 F61 L63 N60 O38 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12495 |
| By: | Jose Benjamin Falck-Zepeda |
| Abstract: | The paper introduces the basic concepts related to adoption, diffusion and innovation in the agricultural sector. This paper introduces relevant definitions and issues, examines conceptual models of technology diffusion in agriculture, followed by a description of the process of technology discovery. The paper furthermore explores the channels and mechanisms of diffusion, the factors influencing adoption, the adaptation of technologies to local contexts, empirical studies illustrating innovation and diffusion patterns, the role of government policies and international organizations, and the impact of technology diffusion on agricultural productivity, sustainable development, and food security and livelihoods. The paper then discusses innovation and diffusion of agricultural biotechnologies and precision agricultural technologies by summarizing the experiences and lessons learned from insect resistant and herbicide tolerant maize, insect resistant cotton and precision agriculture technologies in a selected set of countries. The paper draws up policy lessons and recommendations that may be useful to policy and decision makers considering such technologies in their jurisdiction. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, Diffusion, Genetically modified crops, Agriculture, Least Developed Countries |
| JEL: | O13 O33 Q16 O31 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wip:wpaper:94 |
| By: | Francesco Androni (Gran Sasso Science Institute); Andrea Ascani (Gran Sasso Science Institute); Alberto Marzucchi (Gran Sasso Science Institute) |
| Abstract: | The phenomenon of zombie firms has been increasing through time in the last decades. Prior re search has extensively examined the role of zombie firms in credit misallocation and weak insolvency regimes However, limited attention is paid to how the competitive environment has influenced its surge. The study aims at linking the diffusion of zombie formation with the field of industrial dynam ics. The analysis focuses on whether the intensity of competition influences the diffusion of zombie f irms, by assessing competition forces such as firm entry and innovation intensity. We use micro aggregated data at the region-sector level to analyse the diffusion of zombie firms in Italy for the years from 2014 to 2020, and identify a substantive role of reallocation forces in driving the shares of zombie firms. Competition in the form of entry and, albeit more weakly, innovation intensity reduces the diffusion of zombie firms, ultimately showing that a decrease in competition intensity is part of the phenomenon. This research contributes to understanding the relationship between zombie firms and sluggish economic activity, describing further factors that affect their formation and persistence. |
| Keywords: | Zombie firms; competition; firm entry; innovation; industrial dynamics |
| JEL: | O33 O31 L25 R11 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ahy:wpaper:wp65 |
| By: | Eric Guerci (UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur) |
| Keywords: | Experimental methodology |
| Date: | 2025–12–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05475831 |
| By: | Bienvenu Akowedaho Dagoudo; Natalia Vershinina (Audencia Business School); William Karani Murithi |
| Abstract: | As families engage in entrepreneurship, particularly in developing economies, women's engagement in such activities is subject to the traditional cultures, norms and values of the communities to which they belong. In this article, we aim to investigate how the socio- cultural context influences women's entrepreneurship as women engage in "family entrepreneuring". Design/methodology/approach The study draws on an inductive qualitative approach to explore how multiple cultural, social and economic contexts encourage women's entrepreneurship and, thus, position them at the centre of family entrepreneuring within this community. Using snowballing techniques, we analyse narratives from 51 women entrepreneurs, generated through semi-structured interviews, to reveal key insights into the practice of family entrepreneuring. Findings The findings reveal the complex socio-cultural context within the "Adja" community, where polygamy, a traditional and cultural practice, enables the transfer of culturally and socially embedded informal knowledge. The study explains how women's entrepreneuring activities are supported by informal in-family apprenticeships, resulting in family members learning specific skills whilst also experiencing the feeling of belonging to the family. Showcasing the heterogeneity of contexts, particularly those found in Africa, this study challenges the normative view within the Global North and the dominance of the "heroic male" in entrepreneurship by showcasing how women (especially matriarchs) are significant actors in training other women, co-wives, daughters and relatives in family entrepreneuring. Originality/value Thus, this study contributes to the extant literature on family entrepreneuring by revealing an unusual case of women from polygamous families becoming the focal actors in family entrepreneuring activity and challenging the culturally ascribed gender roles to evolve into the breadwinners in their households, as well as focusing on how this process is driven by endogenous knowledge exchange. |
| Keywords: | women entrepreneurship, endogenous knowledge, polygamy, family entrepreneurial, culture, Africa, Southwest Benin |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04810222 |
| By: | Ernest Miguelez; Michele Pezzoni; Fabiana Visentin; Catalina Martínez; Reinhilde Veugelers; Julio Raffo |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the evolving geography of international technological knowledge diffusion over the last four decades using multiple patent-based indicators. We first review the main mechanisms through which knowledge diffuses across borders—including trade and global value chains, foreign direct investment, skilled migration, global science, and markets for technology—highlighting their complementarities and the role of domestic capabilities. We then provide new empirical evidence based on cross-border patent citations, technological trajectories defined by IPC recombinations, patent-to-science linkages, and international patent families. The results reveal persistent asymmetries, with a small group of advanced economies remaining central knowledge hubs, alongside the rising role of emerging countries, especially China. Science-based technologies diffuse farther and faster, while capability constraints continue to limit integration for many regions. |
| Keywords: | Technological knowledge diffusion, Geography, Patents, Citations, Technological trajectories, Science, Patent families |
| JEL: | O34 O33 F14 F23 R12 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wip:wpaper:92 |
| By: | Andrea Guccione; Pau Roldan-Blanco |
| Abstract: | Firms' innovation outcomes depend on their ability to attract and retain talented inventors. What market frictions prevent the sorting between firms with high innovation potential and high-productivity inventors? How does this sorting impact aggregate innovation, growth and welfare? We address these questions both empirically and theoretically. Empirically, we show that firms facing strong competition in the product market employ more productive inventors, while less productive inventors tend to be allocated in concentrated industries. Theoretically, we embed a frictional labor market for inventors into an endogenous-growth model of strategic innovation. In line with the data, the model predicts that high-productivity inventors are disproportionately employed in firms that operate in competitive industries. We then use the model to quantify the growth and welfare implications of this inventor sorting. Our results show that matching frictions in the market for inventors impede the allocation of high- productivity inventors to firms with high implementation intensity, and are responsible for a 32% loss in economic growth. Industrial policies that subsidize R&D spending relax these frictions by boosting inventor productivity, helping high-quality inventors reallocate to firms with high implementation incentives. Under optimal subsidies, growth increases as much as 74 basis points, closing most of the gap in missing growth caused by frictions in the market for inventors. |
| Keywords: | innovation, inventors, R&D productivity, search |
| JEL: | L16 J6 O3 O4 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bge:wpaper:1562 |
| By: | Carlos Bianchi (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía); Pablo Galaso (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía); Sofía Maio (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía); Sergio Palomeque (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía) |
| Abstract: | We analyse advanced ICTs acquisition in the territorial innovation system of the forestry and ecotourism industry in Uruguay, considering both firms and support organizations related to these sectors. Using social network analysis, we identify that firms follow different strategies of collaboration which generate distinct collective outcomes and imply varing individual costs and require diverse firms’ capabilities. We capture two different firms’ collaborative strategies by means of centrality indexes: intermediary (betweenness centrality) and well-connected (eigenvector centrality). While the latter captures a highly connected position in the network but without the costs of intermediating between third parties, the former does capture an intermediary role, which implies a central position in the network, but may entail costs for the holder. We estimate the effects of these collaboration strategies on the firms’ probability to adopt advanced ICTs. Our results show a positive effect of the well- connected collaboration strategy on the adoption of advanced ICTs while intermediary strategy has a negative effect on the probability to adopt advanced ICT. At the same time, a critical role of support organisations, mainly public, in the structure of the network can be observed. Taken together, these results show the relevance of collaboration as well as the trade-offs faced by intermediaries, highlighting the importance of public organisations in fostering knowledge flows between firms. |
| Keywords: | forestry, ecotourism, local innovation system, advanced ICTs, network analysis |
| JEL: | O14 O33 L14 |
| Date: | 2025–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulr:wpaper:dt-19-25 |
| By: | Pablo Galaso (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía); Sergio Palomeque (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía); Adrián Rodríguez Miranda (Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y de Administración. Instituto de Economía) |
| Abstract: | This study aims to analyze the innovation processes of SMEs in the Canelones region, Uruguay, with a particular focus on the role of support organizations (SOs). The analysis draws on data from SME surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024, as well as a survey of SOs. A combination of econometric techniques, social network analysis, and qualitative data analysis from the surveys is employed to examine the factors associated with different forms of innovation among SMEs and the role of SOs. The findings reveal that innovation is not a widespread practice among SMEs, within a context of low inter-firm collaboration, significant challenges related to unfair competition, fixed and labor costs, and a predominant orientation toward local markets. Nevertheless, a dense and well-coordinated network of SOs is identified, actively working to support SME development. In fact, SME engagement with SOs emerges as one of the most significant factors in increasing the likelihood of innovation. The results also indicate an opportunity to strengthen SO actions in the context of the green transition (sustainability) and digitalization, in order to inform policies aimed at enhancing local innovation networks. Canelones could serve as a suitable region for implementing such policies and monitoring their outcomes, building on an already existing and well-integrated SO network. |
| Keywords: | innovation, SMEs, support organizations, cooperation networks, Uruguay, Latin America |
| JEL: | O31 O32 L26 R58 |
| Date: | 2025–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulr:wpaper:dt-18-25 |
| By: | Daron Acemoglu; Ufuk Akcigit; Simon Johnson |
| Abstract: | This chapter presents a tractable framework for the study of technology adoption and diffusion in the context of economic development. Firms in countries behind the world technology frontier can rapidly adopt new techniques from the world frontier. Lower absorptive capacity (because of weak education systems, poor management practices, or barriers to technology adoption), institutional distortions, mismatch between frontier technologies and the needs of firms in the country (i.e., “inappropriate technology”), and credit market frictions slow down technology adoption and cause the economy in question to have a greater distance to the frontier and thus lower income per capita — although the long-run growth rate of the country still remains equal to that of the frontier. This framework is extended to study the choice between innovation and imitation, as well as the role of selection for higher-productivity and higher-absorptive capacity firms during the process of economic development. We illustrate the main comparative statics of our framework with a number of correlations based on cross-country and firm-level data. The tractability of the framework makes it amenable to a range of additional extensions. |
| Keywords: | technology adoption, innovation, income gap, institutions, economic growth, development, productivity |
| JEL: | O1 O3 O4 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12404 |