nep-knm New Economics Papers
on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy
Issue of 2007‒02‒03
six papers chosen by
Emanuele Canegrati
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

  1. Knowledge Creation as a Square Dance on the Hilbert Cube By Berliant, Marcus; Fujita, Masahisa
  2. Representation in Econometrics: A Historical Perspective By Christopher L. Gilbert; Duo Qin
  3. Stability and Cycles in a Cobweb Model with Heterogeneous Expectations By Laurence Lasselle; Serge Svizzero; Clem Tisdell
  4. Firms’ Strategies for Knowledge and Technology Transfer with Public Research Organisations and Their Impact on Firms’ Performance : An Empirical Analysis Based on Firm-level Data By Spyros Arvanitis; Martin Woerter
  5. Peasantry and Bureaucracy in Decentralization in Bhutan By Ura, Karma
  6. Regional Cooperation of Small & Medium Firms in Japanese Industrial Clusters By Arita, Tomokazu; Fujita, Masahisa; Kameyama, Yoshihiro

  1. By: Berliant, Marcus; Fujita, Masahisa
    Abstract: This paper presents a micro-model of knowledge creation and transfer in a small group of people. Our model incorporates two key aspects of the cooperative process of knowledge creation: (i) heterogeneity of people in their state of knowledge is essential for successful cooperation in the joint creation of new ideas, while (ii) the very process of cooperative knowledge creation a¤ects the heterogeneity of people through the accumulation of knowledge in common. The model features myopic agents in a pure externality model of interaction. In the two person case, we show that the equilibrium process tends to result in the accumulation of too much knowledge in common compared to the most productive state. Unlike the two-person case, in the four person case we show that the equilibrium process of knowledge creation may converge to the most productive state. Equilibrium paths are found analytically, and they are a discontinuous function of initial heterogeneity.
    Keywords: Knowledge Creation, Square Dance, Hilbert Cube, Heterogeneity, Microeconomics, Econometric model, G World,others
    JEL: D83 O31 R11
    Date: 2006–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper14&r=knm
  2. By: Christopher L. Gilbert (Università degli Studi di Trento); Duo Qin (Queen Mary, University of London)
    Abstract: Measurement forms the substance of econometrics. This chapter outlines the history of econometrics from a measurement perspective – how have measurement errors been dealt with and how, from a methodological standpoint, did econometrics evolve so as to represent theory more adequately in relation to data? The evolution is organized in terms of four phases: ‘theory and measurement’, ‘measurement and theory’, ‘measurement with theory’ and ‘measurement without theory’. The question of how measurement research has helped in the advancement of knowledge advance is discussed in the light of this history.
    Keywords: Econometrics, History, Measurement error
    JEL: B16 B23 C10 C50
    Date: 2007–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:qmw:qmwecw:wp583&r=knm
  3. By: Laurence Lasselle; Serge Svizzero; Clem Tisdell
    Abstract: We investigate the dynamics of a cobweb model with heterogeneous beliefs, generalizing the example of Brock and Hommes (1997). We examine situations where the agents form expectations by using either rational expectations, or a type of adaptive expectations with limited memory defined from the last two prices. We specify conditions that generate cycles. These conditions depend on a set of factors that includes the intensity of switching between beliefs and the adaption parameter. We show that both Flip bifurcation and Neimark-Sacker bifurcation can occur as primary bifurcation when the steady state is unstable.
    Keywords: Bounded rationality, Cobweb model, Flip bifurcation, Neimark-Sacker bifurcation.
    JEL: C62 D84 E30
    Date: 2007–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:san:cdmawp:0706&r=knm
  4. By: Spyros Arvanitis (Swiss Institute for Business Cycle Research (KOF), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)); Martin Woerter (Swiss Institute for Business Cycle Research (KOF), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH))
    Abstract: Based on a representative firm sample for Switzerland we empirically investigated strategic approaches for knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) activities between business firms and public research organisations. Based on cluster analysis of 19 different forms for KTT, three types of KTT strategies were identified, each of them correspond with a specific combination of some of the 19 different forms for KTT activities. It was found that they are determined mainly by variables related (a) to the absorptive capacity of a firm and (b) to the degree of appropriability of the returns of innovation, indicating that the followed strategy reflects the resource base of a firm. Further, it was shown that a firm’s obstacle profile with respect to KTT activities is related to the applied strategy. Firms with more intensive contacts emphasise risk-related factors and financial restrictions, while firms with less intensive contacts emphasise a mismatch between firm and university requirements with respect to KTT. Furthermore and most importantly, it was found that strategy matters for the impact of KTT on the innovation performance of a firm. In fact, KTT strategies related to the core R&D activities of a firm showed a greater impact compared to strategies related to ‘softer’ forms of transfer activities, e.g. informal contacts or education related contacts.
    Keywords: R&D strategies, knowledge and technology transfer, innovation activities, R&D activities
    JEL: O30
    Date: 2006–08
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kof:wpskof:06-148&r=knm
  5. By: Ura, Karma
    Abstract: Decentralization process became prominent in Bhutan since early 1980s. Starting with an account of historical precedents for decentralized authority, the paper gives theoretical perspectives and factual descriptions of this process. Limiting itself to a discussion of broader social and political issues, the paper interprets decentralization as an approach towards diversity and pluralism among different communities that is shaped as a dynamics between peasants and civil servants.
    Keywords: Autonomy, Power, Agency, Participation, Knowledge, Buddhist perspective, Decentralization, Peasantry, Bureaucracy, Bhutan
    Date: 2006–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper17&r=knm
  6. By: Arita, Tomokazu; Fujita, Masahisa; Kameyama, Yoshihiro
    Abstract: This study examines the effects of intra-regional cooperation among firms and institutions on the growth of firms, using the unique data set of questionnaire survey collected in the three major industrial clusters in Japan. In contrast to the existing studies on regional innovations or agglomeration economies, this study explicitly focuses on the detailed contents of cooperative activities with two specific viewpoints: 1) the contents of regional cooperation in each of the three production stages of R&D, commercialization, and marketing, and 2) the detailed types of alliance partners. Our results demonstrate three points: 1) positive correlations are observed between the intensity of regional cooperation and the firm growth rate and R&D expenditure, 2) horizontal cooperation such as alliances with universities and cross-industry exchange organizations has positive significant effects on the growth rate of firms, which is in contrast with the previous studies that stressed only the role of vertically integrated inter-firm linkages in Japan, and 3) contents and partners of regional cooperation are different among the three clusters based on different dominant industries.
    Keywords: Industrial clusters, Industrial agglomeration, Knowledge externalities, Japan, Regional economic cooperation, Small and medium-scale enterprises, Research & development, Marketing, Commerce
    JEL: O18 O53 R3
    Date: 2006–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper18&r=knm

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