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on Cultural Economics |
| By: | Anneli Kaasa; Maaja Vadi |
| Abstract: | Culture is deemed to be a crucial basis for innovation in various respects. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationships between different cultural dimensions introduced by Hofstede (2001) and the capability of initiating innovation measured by the number of patent applications using the sample of European countries at the regional level. As a novel approach, instead of using Hofstede’s original index scores, the measures for the cultural dimensions are based on the European Social Survey (ESS). We have learned that to be successful in patenting, a region should have power distance, uncertainty avoidance, family-related collectivism (as opposed to friend-related and organisation-related collectivism) and lower than average masculinity. In addition, the negative relationships between these cultural dimensions and patenting are stronger when there is a higher patenting intensity. However, culture alone does not serve as a guarantee for a high level of patenting intensity. |
| Keywords: | innovation, culture, Europe |
| Date: | 2008 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mtk:febawb:63&r=cul |
| By: | Alexander Dyck; David Moss; Luigi Zingales |
| Abstract: | We argue that profit-maximizing media help overcome the problem of "rational ignorance" highlighted by Downs (1957) and in so doing make elected representatives more sensitive to the interests of general voters. By collecting news and combining it with entertainment, media are able to inform passive voters on politically relevant issues. To show the impact this information has on legislative outcomes, we document the effect "muckraking" magazines had on the voting patterns of U.S. representatives and senators in the early part of the 20th century. We also show under what conditions profit-maximizing media will cater to general (less affluent) voters in their coverage, providing a counterbalance to special interests. |
| JEL: | L51 N41 P16 |
| Date: | 2008–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:14360&r=cul |
| By: | Plaza, Beatriz; Haarich, Silke |
| Abstract: | Bilbao has gained fame with the Guggenheim Museum, even in the Academic world. Google Scholar yields 2610 outcomes for “Bilbao Guggenheim” and the number of articles published in ISI-WoK listed-journals is 93 up until today. Surprisingly, however, almost 80% of these articles have been published by foreign authors, whereas many prestigious local authors have little or almost no scientific production in the ISI listed journals. This article analyses the connexions between nationality, language and publications, and offers an explanation for the disproportion between foreign and local knowledge, which causes mistaken scientific and public opinions about the “Guggenheim-Effect”. |
| Keywords: | Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Bibliometrics. |
| JEL: | Z19 |
| Date: | 2008–09–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:10751&r=cul |