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on Entrepreneurship |
|
Issue of 2005‒11‒09
twenty-one papers chosen by Marcus Dejardin Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix |
| By: | Zoltan Acs; Attila Varga |
| Abstract: | Technological change is a central element in macroeconomic growth explanation. Endogenous growth models take a revolutionary step towards better understanding the economic growth process by deriving technological change from profit-motivated individual behavior. In endogenous growth theory knowledge spillovers play a fundamental role in the determination of the rate of technological progress. As such the efficiency of transmitting knowledge into economic applications is a crucial factor in explaining macroeconomic growth. Endogenous growth models take this factor exogenous. We argue that variations across countries in entrepreneurship and the spatial structure of economic activities could potentially be the source of different efficiencies in knowledge spillovers and ultimately in economic growth. We develop an empirical model to test both the entrepreneurship and the geography effects on knowledge spillovers. To date the only international data that are collected on the basis of exactly the same principles in each country are the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data. We use the 2001 GEM cross-country data to measure the level of entrepreneurship in each particular economy. For this purpose we apply the TEA index developed within the framework of the GEM project and calculated for each country participating in this international research. Additionally, data on employment, production, patent applications, public and private R&D expenditures originating from different international and national sources are applied in the paper. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p516&r=ent |
| By: | Sjoerd Beugelsdijk |
| Abstract: | This paper presents the results of an empirical study on the relationship between entrepreneurial culture, regional rates of innovation and regional economic growth. Recent literature mainly in regional science and economic geography has emphasized the role of an entrepreneurial culture in explaining the economic success of regions. Most of these contributions are however conceptual or case-based. Building on Leibenstein’s view of the entrepreneur as the ‘input completer’ and the Austrian school in which entrepreneurial activity is attributed a central role I hypothesize that regions which can be characterized as having an entrepreneurial culture are more innovative and grow faster. I use a standard economic growth model and test this hypothesis on a sample of 54 European regions. The results confirm the importance of an entrepreneurial culture. Keywords: entrepreneurship, culture, innovation, regional economic growth JEL code: Z1, R11 |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p210&r=ent |
| By: | Francisco Liñán Alcalde; Juan Carlos Rodríguez Cohard |
| Abstract: | At the present time, the entrepreneur's essential role in the process of regional economic development is generally recognized. A greater degree of entrepreneurial dynamism in a region is usually associated with higher growth rates and development levels in the long run. In particular, there seems to be a greater participation in firm creation processes among highly educated people, as well as those aged 25 to 34 years. Therefore, this segment of the population would be the one with the greatest entrepreneurial potential. It would be a strategic segment for the design of more effective entrepreneurial development measures. In the case of the Spanish region of Andalusia, it has an income level well below the national and, especially, the European Union average. At the same time, the entrepreneurial activity is also one of the lowest nationally. Thus, whether we measure the share of the labour force working for themselves, or the mean size of the firms, both indicators are clearly under to the national average. Therefore, it is interesting to analyze the degree of entrepreneurship of the population or, at least, of that segment with highest entrepreneurial potential. Only starting from an accurate diagnosis will it be possible to act in a really effective way. From this standpoint, the objective of this paper is to know the attitudes of the Andalusian university students towards entrepreneurial activity and the creation of enterprises. Those students are especially relevant, since they belong to that strategic segment of higher entrepreneurial potential individuals. In fact, they are both highly educated and around the age of 25. Besides, universities constitute centres of knowledge and excellence. Therefore, their role in the regional economic transformation should be essential. To achieve that objective we have analyzed the situation of two very different centres within the region. The University of Seville is large (more than 60.000 students), old, and located in the greatest metropolitan area in the region. The University of Jaén is new, small (15.000 students), and located in a medium-sized city. Therefore, the existing differences among them may explain some of the factors that would be influencing those entrepreneurial attitudes. From that viewpoint, universities would play a very significant role in entrepreneurial promotion. Indeed, they cannot only guide their students toward self-employment. They can also offer specific training for the creation and dynamism of enterprises -“entrepreneurial education”-. However, Andalusian universities are playing a very limited role in this field so far. Finally, this work is framed within a research project aimed at contributing to the development of economic policy measures that might be more effective to promote the emergence of new entrepreneurs, especially of more dynamic entrepreneurs. Therefore, this project would move along the lines of reports as that of the European Commission (2003): Green Paper Entrepreneurship in Europe. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p161&r=ent |
| By: | Sierdjan Koster |
| Abstract: | In the field of firm demography, spin-offs have recently attracted attention as a very successful form of new firm formation. Policy makers see spin-offs as particularly fertile innovators in an economy. Theoretically, following lines of thought from the resource-based theory, spin-offs are also expected to perform better than other start-ups that lack the resource base spin-offs inherited from their mother companies. This paper shows, based on an empirical study of American entrepreneurs (ERC-dataset) that spin-offs are indeed a step ahead of firms that do not receive support from a third party company. In the early stages of their existence, spin-offs are leading other new firms in the development of their products, spin-offs show an increased tendency to hire personnel, and spin-offs receive their first income sooner than other firms. At start-up, spin-outs hardly differ from individual start-ups, which have not received any back-up during the gestation process. After one year they seem to perform slightly better. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p287&r=ent |
| By: | Hannu Tervo |
| Abstract: | Only few in-depth studies of the alternation between different labour market states have been published. This paper deals with the alternation between self-employment, paid-employment and non-employment in Finland in 1987-1999, paying special attention to differences in self-employment dynamics between areas characterized by different labour market conditions, viz. rural and urban locations. The analysis is based on a one-percent random sample drawn from panel data on the census and longitudinal employment statistics. The results show differences in the transition processes between the three labour market states by the type of area. The results suggest that alternation between different employment options is likely to increase, if employment opportunities remain low in local labour markets. Five major types of working careers are identified, all of which are more common in rural than urban areas. The type of area is importantly related to alternating working careers even when all the important control variables are included into the models. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p396&r=ent |
| By: | George Korres; Emmanuel Marmaras; George Tsobanoglou |
| Abstract: | The importance of diffusion of technology for economic growth has been emphasised by economic literature. Much of the recent work on economic growth can be viewed as refining the basic economic insights of classical economists. The recent debate on the determinants of output growth has concentrated mainly on the role of knowledge, typically produced by a specific sector of the economy, and furthermore in the role of entrepreneurship and the implications on economic growth. This paper attempts to examine the role of entrepreneurship, and those of innovation activities (technical change, research and development and diffusion of technology) and the effects of output growth, according to the Schumpeterian lines. Following on the Schumpeterian tradition, this paper starts from the recognition that there are two main patterns of innovations: the first one is the creative destruction pattern and the second one is a creative accumulation pattern. Also, it emphasizes the role of entrepreneurship and the impact of the diffusion of technology in the inter-country and international economic contexts using some of the empirical implementation of epidemic, probit analysis and moreover from technological substitution models. Key Words: Entrepreneurship, Innovation Activities, Diffusion, Modernization, Competitiveness, Schumperer. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p169&r=ent |
| By: | Nelson Duarte |
| Abstract: | The role played by SMEs in any society is undoubtedly important, for instance, in Portugal around 98% of the industrial fabric is composed by SMEs. Nowadays, entrepreneurship and firm creation is mostly related to small and micro firms, which lead us to look at them as an important development agent in any society. Most of times, firms are seen as a black box on what concerns to development however the measures taken by them, entrepreneurial strategies, and entrepreneurship actions, have influence in the development theatre. At the same, not only the SMEs as a group of firms (industrial sector) must be taken into consideration, but also many factors inside the firm, such as the quality of management, human resources, or innovation factors. This work intends to present the state-of-art on the subjects relating SMEs and development, trying to find out how the SMEs are related to development, which factors are taken into consideration when the role of these firms are analysed, for instance, innovation factors, human resources, or the firm revenues. It is widely accepted that SMEs are an important development agent, but sometimes they are analysed not like an agent by themselves, but as a group of firms creating (the group) another agent. This group might be a cluster, an industrial district or a filière, however it is important to look to the firm by itself. The entrepreneur might take individual actions different from those followed by the group. So the small or micro firm also has an important role for development, the main idea for this work is to find out some important initial literature on SMEs and development, trying to get a perception of the role played, not only on what concerns to enterprises creation, but also on the strategies adopted by these type of enterprises to overcome the bottleneck of regional development. Keywords: Development, SMEs, Entrepreneurship |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p39&r=ent |
| By: | Corina Huisman; Leo Van Wissen |
| Abstract: | In the last two decades researchers from various disciplines have made attempts to model and estimate developments in the size and structure of the population of firms. Although these attempts give useful insights into possible explanatory factors of firm dynamics, the explanatory value, and hence predictive power of these models is usually not very high. In this paper we follow a pure demographic approach for the modelling of firm survival. Important dimensions of the firm are firm age, firm size (in number of employees), economic activity and firm location. Using empirical firm level data for the region of Gelderland in the Netherlands over the period 1986-2002, developments in survival are described and analysed over time in an age-period-cohort perspective. In a later phase of the project, these (aggregated) scenarios will serve as a point of reference for comparisons to more extended model specifications using micro-simulation that include additional explanatory and spatial variables. Keywords: demography of the firm, Age-Period-Cohort model, firm survival, closures |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p586&r=ent |
| By: | Chryssanthi Balomenou |
| Abstract: | In the first part of my paper I will analyze the important role of SMEs as the most crucial factor for the development of the local entrepreneurship. In addition I will quote the arising difficulties in SMEs’ access to loans. This part will be concluded by the presentation of the Third Consultative Paper of The Basel II Capital Accord, in relation to its impact on SMEs, focussing on the comments of the European Central Bank, World Bank Eurochabres, and of the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and more specifically, on those referring to SMEs.. The second part will refer to the Structure of the New Accord Three Pillars, focussing on the Basel II Capital Adequacy framework and specifically on the first pillar (Minimum Capital Requirement). Obviously, the said part will be completed by the consequences of the aforementioned topic for the SMEs. In the third and last part of my paper I will work out a critical analysis of the New Basel Capital Accord, concentrating on its pros and corns for SMEs’ banking finance. Finally, my paper will contain an appendix of tables and graphs and of course the relevant references. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p336&r=ent |
| By: | Doris Neuberger (University of Rostock); Christoph Schacht (IFZ Institute for Financial Services Zug) |
| Abstract: | The present paper investigates the number of bank relationships of small and medium-sized enterprises in Switzerland using survey data from 1996 and 2002. We differentiate between overall bank relationships and lending relationships and disaggregate the loan market with respect to firm sizes, industries and banking groups. On average, bank lending declined, while the role of housebank relationships increased in 1996- 2002. The development of the number of bank relationships seems to have been demand-driven as well as supply-driven for medium-sized firms, but only supply-driven for very small and small firms. Supply-side reductions resulted from the merger between two big banks and changes in credit risk management at major banks. |
| Keywords: | relationship lending, housebank, loan market structure, multiple banks |
| JEL: | G21 G32 |
| Date: | 2005–09–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wpa:wuwpfi:0509001&r=ent |
| By: | Andreas Koch; Harald Strotmann |
| Abstract: | Knowledge intensive business service firms (KIBS) are an important element of modern economies and thus attracting increasing interest in scientific research. In the existing literature it is argued that due to the important role of knowledge, innovation and user-producer interaction in the KIBS sector, functional and regional integration are particularly decisive for the firms’ post-entry development. Nevertheless, few existing studies are dealing with questions of entrepreneurship in the KIBS sector using micro firm data. This contribution gives an empirical analysis of the determinants of post-entry performance of KIBS in three German metropolitan regions. Due to the lack of suitable firm micro data, telephone interviews with 547 firm founders have been conducted. By applying multivariate estimation methods it can be shown that functional linkages to knowledge providers, customers and co-operation partners indeed matter for the performance of young KIBS. Regarding regional integration, however, especially a high diversification of spatial reach is proved to be crucial. JEL-Classification: D21, J23, L80, O30 Keywords: Employment growth; Entrepreneurship; Entry; Innovation; Knowledge-intensive business services; Post-entry performance |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p442&r=ent |
| By: | Knut Koschatzky; Thomas Stahlecker |
| Abstract: | A key feature of the knowledge-based economy is a remarkable increase in the number, foundation rates, and employees of knowledge-intensive business service firms (KIBS). KIBS are knowledge-intensive, in the sense that they are founded upon highly specialised knowledge. Based on the assumption, that knowledge and knowledge-organisation is tied to personal capabilities and information, spatial "proximity" to knowledge-providers and –users appears to be crucial in the development- and growth-process of KIBS. The idea, that a region matters to foundation activities primarily derives from a resource-based view. Different regional environments (e.g. configurations of incubator and intermediate organisations, regional "entrepreneurial social infrastructure") and the foundation pattern of KIBS are obviously interrelated. In addition to environmental factors affecting the development or growth of newly founded KIBS, factors related to the entrepreneur of KIBS as well as factors related to characteristics of the KIBS-firms have to be taken into consideration. Based upon a survey with founders of KIBS firms in three German regions, a selection of indicators will be used as determinants for new KIBS growth. Comparing the successful KIBS start-ups with those showing an employment decrease in the relevant time period, it has to be emphasized, that KIBS with employment in-crease are co-operating with other firms and institutions on all spatial levels, regardless of the function of the partner-firms for the KIBS activities. Keywords: KIBS – Region - Spatial proximity – Growth |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p295&r=ent |
| By: | Anna Dokukina |
| Abstract: | The range of up-to-date means to achieve success in business is rather extensive. The question is how to use them effectively taking into consideration conceptual changes in modern business strategies. Characteristics of development of the firm as a learning organization and crea-tion of corporate universities has been discussed during last decades by corporate and human resources managers, economic consultants and business education professionals. Most researchers emphasize the role of a corporate training system as an important competitive advantage in the dynamic conditions of modern business activity. Interest of Russian businessmen and economists to the new ways of solving managerial and production tasks has emerged quite recently. The pursuit of effective decision in management and production corresponding to the actual business strategies leads to the increase of significance of intellectual capital as a base of a system of com-petitive advantages of Russian enterprises. The current and planned research is devoted to the problem of pursuit and crea-tion of unique resources such as systems of corporate training and knowledge manage-ment which are main elements of strategic planning and management of a firm. The framework of research includes the following main points: · Analysis of the modern market development and related new business con-cepts. · The role of intellectual capital as an important part of a business life. · Dynamics of business environment and the necessity of learning organiza-tions’ creation and development. · Modern Corporate Universities as the most important institute of the enter-prise. · International and Russian tendencies in accumulation and application of intel-lectual capital and creation of Corporate Universities. The present article is dedicated to the consideration of the reasons and directions of conceptual changes in the business activity realization; to the problems of the devel-opment of business enterprise as learning organization and creation of the corporate universities; to the experience and tendencies of the concentration and realization of in-tellectual capital. Key words: entrepreneurship, economics of the firm, competition, intellectual capital, learning organization, knowledge management, corporate university. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p109&r=ent |
| By: | Marisa Cesário; Maria-Teresa Noronha Vaz |
| Abstract: | The present paper was motivated by the recent interest put on the regional context as having a major role tracing economic agents behaviours and inducing productive activity. Three main goals have been defined: to emphasise the relation between favourable regional factors for development and firm performance in the case of the most industrialised Portuguese regions; to distinguish in each region its own propensity for sustainable development and to evaluate if the region may be considered as intrinsic co-operative or resistant to co-operation. Methodologically, the analysis followed three major steps: 1) selection of regions with industrial characteristics; 2) creation and use of the endogenous growth capacity indicators; 3) consequent analysis of the SMEs (small and medium size firms) behaviour’s evolution. Based on Multivariate Analysis, the following regions were selected: Ave, Entre Douro e Vouga, Baixo Vouga, Pinhal Litoral and Península de Setúbal. Basically, they represent the areas where industrial activity is predominant in Portugal. When comparing the observed local environmental conditions of these regions with the results for the performance of their small firms, some conclusions could be achieved, regarding to three major issues: the relation between regional development factors development and firm performance; the regional propensity for sustainable development and the regional adequacy to networking. Key words: territorial systems of production; local endogenous capacities; SMEs performance. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p179&r=ent |
| By: | Aurora Amélia Castro Teixeira; Pedro Cosme Vieira |
| Abstract: | A study focusing Portuguese textile firms dynamics during the eighties and nineties (Teixeira, 2002; Teixeira and Vieira, 2004) demonstrated that plants which tended to hire workers with higher levels of human capital (education) were those that, on average, presented a lower probability of survival. Macro-level evidence on the relation between human capital, per capita income and productivity seems to be at odds with the micro evidence reported. Specifically, at the economy level the bulk of studies found a positive relation between human capital accumulation and productivity dynamics (Michie et al, 2002; Teixeira and Fortuna, 2003; Maudos et al, 2003) which, at first glance, seems hard to match with the micro-level evidence suggesting that the accumulation of human capital is associated with higher failure rates on firm’s behalf. The potential explanation for this may be related with the fact that firms can be positioned into one of the two possible states – low productivity and low risk or high productivity and high risk. In order for a low productivity-low risk firm to become high productivity-high risk firm it has to hire top educated workers. Successful high productivity-high risk firms, i.e, those that survive, are the ‘engine of growth’. This may explain that regions, which have higher levels of human capital, be those that, in the medium term, have higher levels of per capita income and higher firm failure rates. This association of higher per capita income/productivity levels and higher firm destruction rates translates the schumpeterian issue of creative destruction (Schumpeter, 1942). In the present paper we try to validate this theoretical explanation using empirical evidence at the regional level. Based on panel data relative to 27 Portuguese regions (NUTIII) over the period 1992-1999, we estimate an econometric model of the relation between human capital, firm productivity and firm failure rates. Estimation results suggest important policy implications, namely that policy measures involving schooling incentives, i.e., human capital supply side focused policies, should be replaced by more human capital demand side focused policies aiming to easy bankruptcy processes. Keywords: Schooling, Productivity, Firm Survival, Regions |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p134&r=ent |
| By: | Vitor Braga |
| Abstract: | The competitiveness of regions, as a means of promoting the competitiveness of a country as a whole, has been one of the main topics on the agenda of policy makers over the last decades. Several attempts at promoting competitiveness have been made with different degrees of success. In most cases, public investment in the regions was perceived as the solution to promote regional competitiveness and top-down policies were implemented. However, competitiveness also has an important dimension that is not related to public investment and depends instead on the cultural and institutional norms of a region. These regional characteristics are not easily addressed by traditional regional policies and require the study of cognitive processes and sociological and anthropological issues. Over recent years regional development has emphasised the importance of endogenous development. From this point of view, national or local governments’ policies must recognise that competitiveness not only comes from public investment in physical infrastructures but also depends on the behaviour, attitudes and capabilities of local entrepreneurs within the business environment. The scientific literature has been unanimous in showing that business networks carry advantages for regional competitiveness. Several key issues are raised regarding this issue including trust, local culture, and transaction costs. The networking of activities gains special emphasis with respect to SMEs. In most cases the regional economy depends on these firms and they are frequently seen as a key element within regional development. Also these firms depend much more on potential networks to gain advantages in information and expertise and often require joint ventures with respect to R&D activities. This paper will address the advantages of networking and its contribution to regional development as a way of promoting competitiveness. In so doing it will analyse the factors that lead entrepreneurs to co-operate and apply these findings in the context of regional and national economic development. Keywords: Network form of organisation, Local development, Trust, Co-operation. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p455&r=ent |
| By: | Robert J Stimson; Roger R. Stough |
| Abstract: | Theories and approaches to endogenous growth and regional development tend to neglect or at best underplay the role of leadership and the way institutional factors are considered is usually simplistic. This paper builds on work the authors have been developing over the last year or so to develop a model framework of regional economic development that explicitly incorporates leadership and institutional factors along with the consideration of resource endowments and market fit and of entrepreneurship. An approach to operationalizing the model is proposed. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p697&r=ent |
| By: | Wilhelm J. Meester; Pieter H. Pellenbarg |
| Abstract: | Empirical studies on firm location and migration show that actual location decisions are often based on incomplete and inaccurate information about potential locations. Decision makers seem to be guided by their subjective interpretation of reality, not so much by reality itself. Twenty years ago this fundamental idea was the starting point for a research program of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen that focussed on the subjective rating of locations by Dutch entrepreneurs. The first picture of this subjective valuation, based on an extensive postal enquiry, was taken in 1983 (Pellenbarg 1985) and repeated by an identical project in 1993 (Meester 1999). A third enquiry, again identical to the first and second, was held in 2003. On the basis of the three projects a true comparison can now be made of the mental maps of Dutch entrepreneurs in the years 1983, 1993, and 2003. This paper describes and analyses the three mental maps. Moreover, the data are used in a factor analysis, to try to establish the basic influences that form the entrepreneurial mental maps. It shows that the basic shape of the mental maps (a dome with centrally located Utrecht as a summit) did not change much in twenty years. A closer look however, reveals that the dome is flattening. In the first period (1983-1993) we witness a decrease of appreciation of the locations on its West flank (the ‘old’ Randstad) while in the second period (1993-2003) this decrease extends to the Eastern parts of the Randstad. The factor analysis suggests that three fundamental dimensions determine the entrepreneurs’ judgments: potency, activity, and evaluation. Potency may be understood as centrality of location. Activity is correlated to agglomeration. It is hypothesized that landscape and culture determine the evaluative dimension. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p556&r=ent |
| By: | Ilaria Mariotti; Giacinto Micucci; Pasqualino Montanaro |
| Abstract: | Traditionally, scholars describe Italian industrial districts (IDs) as closed manufacturing systems of SMEs embedded in local contexts, able to interact with the outside only at the two ends of the value chain and where well-identified firms were in charge of managing the relationships with final markets (Becattini, 1989; 2002; Piore and Sabel, 1984). However, at the end of the nineteen-eighties and during the nineties, even local systems of SMEs (IDs) perceived the importance of increasing their contacts with firms outside the local district area. The emerging delocalisation process carried out by Italian district SMEs highlights their abilities to globalise not only by selling products manufactured locally in international markets (export-based perspective), but also in terms of the international reorganisation of local supply chains. The purpose of the paper is twofold. First, we investigate whether the internationalization strategies by district SMEs are independent or complementary to each other. Second, we test if they are linked to the lack of low-skilled labour force. The questions will be addressed using data-sample of about 700 district firms (Bank of Italy database). The paper is organised as follows. A general introduction is followed by a discussion of the internationalisation strategies adopted by Italian SMEs. Section three focuses on the internationalisation process of the IDs and offers a review of studies on the subject. Section four presents an empirical analysis on the process as undergone by a sample of district SMEs. The results of the econometric model are described in section five and some ideas for further research are forwarded in the conclusions. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p436&r=ent |
| By: | Anet Weterings; Ron Boschma |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we concentrate on how evolutionary economics contributes to a better understanding of the spatial evolution of newly emerging industries. Inspired by evolutionary thinking, four types of explanations are discussed and tested in an empirical analysis of the spatial pattern of the software sector in the Netherlands. Traditionally, agglomeration economies provide an explanation for the spatial concentration of an industry. Firms located in a cluster of similar or related sectors benefit from cost reductions, due to lower transportation costs, a thick labour market, specialised suppliers and information spillovers. An evolutionary approach on agglomeration economies provides an alternative view. It focuses explicit attention on knowledge spillovers as a vehicle of local diffusion of organizational routines or competences from one firm to the other. Such transfers of (tacit) knowledge are facilitated by spatial proximity of firms and a common knowledge base. In addition, an evolutionary approach takes a dynamic perspective on the role of agglomeration economies. During the initial stage of development of a new industry, the surrounding environment is still directed to routines and competences related to existing industries. When the new industry concentrates in a particular area to a considerable degree, a supportive environment (specialized knowledge, labour with specific skills) may gradually come into being, and localization economies may arise. Other evolutionary mechanisms may also provide an explanation for the spatial formation of new industries. We distinguish another three of them. First of all, transfer of knowledge and successful routines between firms in an emerging industry may occur through spin-off dynamics. Secondly, (social) networks may function as effective channels of knowledge diffusion and interactive learning, because they can provide a common knowledge base and mutual understanding and trust. Thirdly, firms in new industries with organizational capabilities that can deal effectively with the lack of required resources (such as knowledge, skills and capital) may become dominant, due to selection and imitation. Based on cross-sectional data gathered among 265 software firms in the Netherlands in 2003, we have tested which factors have influenced the innovative productivity of these firms. Using regression techniques, the outcomes suggest that spin-offs and firms with organizational capabilities perform better, while networks relations do not seem to affect the performance of software firms. Geography matters as well: software firms located in a region with a labour market with more ICT-skills show a higher innovative productivity. Keywords: evolutionary economics, industrial location, evolution of industries, software sector, agglomeration economies, organizational capabilities, spin-off, networks |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p208&r=ent |
| By: | Maria Manuela Santos Natário; Felisberto Marques Reigado; Paulo Neto |
| Abstract: | Accord Aydalot (1986), the firm in no heaven-sent agent free to “choose” an environment, it is secrete by its environment. The firm is not an isolated innovative agent but is part of the milieu, which makes it act. The competitive and innovative performance of the territory, territories more or less competitive and innovative, requires persistence and participation of the different actors: companies, institutions of support and assistance to the company’s activity, public institutions. We do not have the ambition to cover the whole different actors, but illustrate the approach that reflect the better performance innovative of the companies is associate to different factors of the environment milieu and evaluate the determinant conditions of participation in innovation activities. Our purpose is to analyse the behaviour of the companies of 3 NUTS III of Beira Interior of Portugal, relatively to the innovative initiatives. We use a survey applied to vast set of companies. The methodology is based on the application of the multivariate statistics: k-means analysis clusters that allowed distinguish 3 standard behaviours from the companies. To classify the standard behaviour of the companies and identify the characteristics of each cluster, we applied the crosstabs and compare means. We consider the fowling attributes to the different clusters: process of innovation, the mechanisms of knowledge, the networks and the system of governance. These attributes will help to trace the profile of the innovative behaviours and to perceive which the factors or variables of the environment those are links with the best performance on innovation. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p502&r=ent |