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on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy |
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Issue of 2007‒09‒02
eight papers chosen by Emanuele Canegrati Catholic University of the Sacred Heart |
| By: | Uwe Cantner (School of Business and Economics, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany); Maximilian Goethner (School of Business and Economics, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany); Andreas Meder (School of Business and Economics, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Germany) |
| Abstract: | This paper is concerned with the relationship between innovative success of entrepreneurs and their prior knowledge at the stage of firm formation. We distinguish between different kinds of experience an entrepreneur can possess and find evidence that the innovative success subsequent to firm formation is enhanced by entrepreneur's prior technological knowledge but not by prior market and organizational knowledge. Moreover we find that prior technological knowledge gathered through embeddedness within a research community has an additionally positive influence on post start-up innovative success. This is a first hint towards the importance of collective innovation activities. |
| Keywords: | Entrepreneurship, Networks, Prior knowledge |
| JEL: | L25 O31 Z13 |
| Date: | 2007–08–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2007-052&r=knm |
| By: | Ahmed S. Rahman (United States Naval Academy) |
| Abstract: | This paper attempts to ascertain if skill-biased technologies developed in R&D-active countries diffuse to the rest of the world. First, using a model of international trade, I show the effects of skill-bias knowledge diffusion. The theory suggests that skill-biased technological diffusion need not increase skill premia, as sectoral biases can exert countervailing forces. Second, I test implications from the theory using United Nations industry data. Skill-biased knowledge diffusion tends to be associated with rising local skill-premia more in skill-intensive industries than unskill-intensive ones. Thus sectoral biases can help us see the extent of such technological spillovers. |
| Date: | 2007–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:usn:usnawp:18&r=knm |
| By: | Scott Baker; Pak Yee Lee; Claudio Mezzetti |
| Abstract: | This paper models the disclosure of knowledge as a "threat", useful in ensuring firms keep their commitments. We show that firms holding knowledge are better able to enforce agreements than firms that don’t. In markets requiring innovation to make a product, disclosure is a more powerful threat than entry by the punishing firm alone. Occasionally, the punishing firm won’t be able to innovate, making it impossible for it to enter the cheating firm’s market and punish. The punishing firm, however, can through disclosure credibly ensure that one, if not many, firms enter the cheating firm’s market. In the model, firms contract explicitly to exchange knowledge and tacitly to coordinate the introduction of innovations to the marketplace. We find conditions under which firms can self-enforce both agreements. The enforcement conditions are weaker when (1) firms possess knowledge and (2) knowledge is easily transferable to other firms. The disclosure threat has implication for antitrust law generally, which are considered. |
| Date: | 2007–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lec:leecon:07/8&r=knm |
| By: | E. COOLS; H. VAN DEN BROECK |
| Abstract: | Considerable attention has been devoted to cognitive styles since the beginning of the previous century. Cognitive styles are extensively studied in diverse research domains. This large interest led to a wide diversity of cognitive style theories and studies. The development of the cognitive style field shows some similarity with the story of the ‘blind men and the elephant’, with researchers tending to study only one part of the whole, but none with full understanding. The aim of this article is to build further on previous suggestions for the advancement of the cognitive style field by focusing on six relevant, critical issues in the area of the theory, the measurement, and the practical relevance of cognitive styles: (1) the need for conceptual clarification to situate cognitive styles in the individual differences field, (2) the need for an overarching, contextualized individual differences model, (3) towards longitudinal, contextual research designs to find the origins of cognitive style, (4) the search for the fundamental cognitive style dimensions in the myriad of cognitive style models, (5) an evolution from self-report questionnaires to multi-source, multi-method approaches, and (6) bridging the relevance gap by different approaches of knowledge creation and knowledge dissemination. On the basis of an overview of past and present cognitive style research, we purport to suggest an agenda for future research in the field of cognitive styles. Ideally, cognitive style research evolves towards a ‘pragmatic science’, which combines high theoretical rigour with high practical relevance. |
| Keywords: | cognitive styles, review, future research agenda |
| Date: | 2007–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rug:rugwps:07/470&r=knm |
| By: | Alan Hughes |
| Abstract: | This paper questions the current emphases in innovation policy on a particular interpretation of US performance which emphasises R&D intensive high technology producing sectors, spin-offs from the science base and private sector venture capital. Whilst recognizing the important role they may play it is argued that it has been greatly exaggerated to the neglect of other key factors. One is the importance of the diffusion and use of ICT as a general purpose technology beyond the ICT and other R&D intensive high-tech producing sectors. A second is the dominant role which performance transformation in existing firms plays in driving industry level productivity compared with the direct role of new entrants. A third is the diversified role played by universities in knowledge exchange which extends beyond a narrow focus on spin offs and licensing to encompass the creation of human capital and a wide range of formal and informal business interactions. Finally there is the major role that public R&D procurement policy has played in the US in the effective provision of public rather than private sector venture capital. The paper provides a broad overview of evidence on each of these factors and considers some broad implications for innovation policy which might be drawn on the basis of that review. In particular it concludes by arguing that the crafting of innovation policy in the context of any specific national innovation system requires a careful consideration of the structural features of that context and the particular opportunities and challenges facing policy practitioners in it. An imperfect interpretation of the experience of one country's system is unlikely to be an appropriate guide to innovation system failure or success elsewhere. |
| Keywords: | Innovation Policy, University-Industry Links, Productivity Growth |
| JEL: | O31 O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2007–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cbr:cbrwps:wp348&r=knm |
| By: | Lukach, R.; Kort, P.M.; Plasmans, J.E.J. (Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research) |
| Abstract: | It is shown that asymmetry in R&D efficiency between firms is an important factor determining feasibility of the preemption and attrition scenarios in competitive R&D with time to build. Scenarios of attrition and preemption games are most likely to occur when competitors have similar R&D efficiencies. In case of largely asymmetric firms the games of attrition and preemption are very unlikely, thus the R&D duration choices of firms are determined by the actual trade-off between the benefits of earlier innovation and the costs of faster R&D project completion. |
| Keywords: | R&D Investment;Competition;Preemption;Attrition. |
| JEL: | C72 D21 O31 |
| Date: | 2007 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:kubcen:200738&r=knm |
| By: | Douglas J. Krupka (IZA) |
| Abstract: | The role of amenities in the flow of migrants has been debated for some years. This paper advances an original model of amenities that work through household production instead of directly through the utility function. Area characteristics (amenities) affect household production, causing certain kinds of human capital investments to be rewarded more than others. Area heterogeneity makes such investments location-specific, in that some areas’ characteristics will reward certain kinds of knowledge more than others. This specificity - along with a period of exogenous location (before migration can be carried out) - increases the opportunity costs of moving, diminishes migration flows between dissimilar locations and increases valuation of amenities which were present in the originating area. These theoretical results emphasize people’s sorting across areas and thus differ from the results of the standard model of compensating differentials. Empirical tests of the model’s predictions using NLSY79 data show that childhood investments affect migration flows in the way proposed by the model. |
| Keywords: | migration, amenities, human capital, location specificity |
| JEL: | R23 J61 |
| Date: | 2007–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2987&r=knm |
| By: | Todd R. Stinebrickner; Ralph Stinebrickner |
| Abstract: | Despite the large amount of attention that has been paid recently to understanding the determinants of educational outcomes, knowledge of the causal effect of the most fundamental input in the education production function - students' study time and effort - has remained virtually non-existent. In this paper, we examine the causal effect of studying on grade performance using an Instrumental Variable estimator. Our approach takes advantage of a unique natural experiment and is possible because we have collected unique longitudinal data that provides detailed information about all aspects of this experiment. Important for understanding the potential impact of a wide array of education policies, the results suggest that human capital accumulation is far from predetermined at the time of college entrance. |
| JEL: | I2 J22 J24 |
| Date: | 2007–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:13341&r=knm |