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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Centre for the Study of Living Standards |
| Abstract: | It is widely recognized that machinery and equipment investment intensity is less in Canada than in the United States. What is less well know is that it is information and communications technology (ICT) investment that largely accounts for this gap. The author documents trends in ICT investment in both Canada and the United States and attempts to explain why ICT investment per worker in the Canadian business sector in 2004 was only 45 per cent of that in the US business sector. While no definitive explanation emerges, among the factors he identifies as playing a role are industrial structure, firm size distribution of employment, the price of labour compared to ICT investment goods, and the underestimation of ICT investment in official statistics. |
| Keywords: | Machinery and equipment investment, information and communications technology, ICT, Investment gap, Business sector, Industrial structure, Firm size |
| JEL: | E22 G11 J21 M00 O47 Z10 |
| Date: | 2005–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sls:resrep:0506&r=ict |
| By: | Avenel, E.; Favier, A.V.; Ma, S.; Mangematin V.; Rieu, C. |
| Abstract: | The paper investigates the linkages between characteristics of technologies and a firm’s knowledge base. Nanotechnologies have been defined as converging technologies that operate as nanoscale, and which require integration to fulfil their economic promises. The paper analyses the degree of convergence and the convergence mechanisms within a firm’s knowledge base. If convergence predominates as it has been claimed, nanotechnologies are not competence destroyers and the development is based on the exetension of the knowledge base of existing firms. Based on a worldwide database of nanofirms, the paper examines the influence of the characteristics of the technologies on the structure of the firm knowledge base. It argues that nano S&T patterns of development combine competence destroying activities and a critical role of research facilities and technological platforms. While the competence destroying characteristics of nanotechnologies give a premium to emerging companies, the role of research and production facilities stenghthens large incumbent competitive position and geographically polarises the emergence of small dedicated nanofimrs. |
| Keywords: | FIRM KNOWLEDGE BASE ; NANOTECHNOLOGY; COHERENCE SCOPE; SCIENCE REGIME; CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES |
| JEL: | O31 O32 L22 |
| Date: | 2006 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gbl:wpaper:200602&r=ict |
| By: | Brian Mennecke; Anthony Townsend |
| Abstract: | This manuscript reports on a project to examine the feasibility of extensive radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging to determine product provenance in the meat production industry. The investigators examined existing technologies and meat production processes as well as emerging technologies in RFID tagging to assess the potential of RFID technologies for provenance assurance. While RFID technologies hold tremendous promise for traceability, the current state of the technology and production process creates challenges for effectively creating full traceability. However, RFID holds tremendous potential for improving processing throughput, which will help make RFID-based traceability more attractive for adoption by meat processors. |
| Keywords: | brand marketing, provenance assurance, radio frequency identification (RFID), traceability. |
| Date: | 2005–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ias:mpaper:05-mrp8&r=ict |