nep-knm New Economics Papers
on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy
Issue of 2010‒10‒02
four papers chosen by
Laura Stefanescu
European Research Centre of Managerial Studies in Business Administration

  1. Scope of Innovations, Knowledge Spillovers and Growth By Gray, Elie; Grimaud, André
  2. The Optimal Climate Policy Portfolio when Knowledge Spills Across Sectors By Emanuele Massetti; Lea Nicita
  3. the roles of intellectual property rights in the networked enterprise: the growing importance of coordination in innovation networks By Blandine LAPERCHE
  4. On the Green Side of Trade Competitiveness? Environmental Policies and Innovation in the EU By Valeria Costantini; Massimiliano Mazzanti

  1. By: Gray, Elie (Toulouse Business School and Toulouse School of Economics (LERNA)); Grimaud, André (Toulouse School of Economics (IDEI, LERNA) and Toulouse Business School)
    Abstract: This paper exploits the formalization of a circular product differentiation model of Salop (1979) to propose an endogenous growth quality ladder model in which the knowledge inherent in a given sector can spread variously across the sectors of the economy, ranging from local to global influence. Accordingly, this affects the size of the pool of knowledge in which innovations draw themselves on in order to be produced. Therefore, the law of knowledge accumulation, and thus the growth rate of the economy, depend positively on the expected scope of diffusion of innovations, i.e. on the intensity of knowledge spillovers. This approach generalizes the endogenous growth theory as developed in the seminal models of Grossman & Helpman (1991) and Aghion & Howitt (1992), extending their analysis to the possibility of considering stochastic and partial knowledge spillovers. This framework allows us to mitigate the positive externality of knowledge and thus to apprehend the issue of the funding of research with more parsimony. We characterize the set of steady-state Schumpeterian equilibria as a function of the public tools. We provide an explanation for the fact that research effort can either be suboptimal or over-optimal, depending on the expected scope of knowledge. Accordingly, we find that the optimal public tool dedicated to foster R&D activity depends positively on it.
    Keywords: Schumpeterian growth, scope of diffusion of innovations, knowledge spillovers
    JEL: O30 O31 O41
    Date: 2010–03
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tse:wpaper:22693&r=knm
  2. By: Emanuele Massetti (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei and Euro-Mediterranean Center for Climate Change); Lea Nicita (Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei)
    Abstract: This paper studies the implications for climate policy of the interactions between environmental and knowledge externalities. Using a numerical analysis performed with the hybrid integrated assessment model WITCH, extended to include mutual spillovers between the energy and the non-energy sector, we show that the combination between environmental and knowledge externalities provides a strong rationale for implementing a portfolio of policies for both emissions reduction and the internalisation of knowledge externalities. Moreover, we show that implementing technology policy as a substitute for stabilisation policy is likely to increase global emissions.
    Keywords: Technical Change, Climate Change, Development, Innovation, Spillovers
    JEL: C72 H23 Q25 Q28 O31 O41 Q54
    Date: 2010–07
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2010.96&r=knm
  3. By: Blandine LAPERCHE
    Abstract: The networked enterprise simultaneously seeks to develop new knowledge in order to be able to compete on international markets thanks to its innovation capacity and to improve its process of allocation of resources, notably by reducing its production and organisational costs. In this paper, we study the functions of intellectual property rights in these productive and organisational objectives of the networked enterprise. Intellectual property rights are usually studied in relation to their incentive/defensive and offensive roles. But do they play a role in the organisation and notably in the coordination of activities within the networked enterprise? We consider that they have an important ‘coordination function’, making easier the relationships between all the fragmented parts of the networked enterprise. This coordination role is moreover gaining ground in the context of collaborative innovation (innovation networks). It is thus associated to the ‘incentive/defensive function’ of IPRs, aiming at protecting and thus giving incentives to the constitution of the firm’s innovation potential, called here ‘knowledge capital’. This coordination function is also associated to the ‘offensive one’, relying on the construction and the reinforcement of entry barriers which largely contribute to define the position of the networked enterprise within the innovation network to which it usually belongs. The paper concludes by stressing the relationship between the functions of IPRs in networked enterprises and the extension and strengthening of IPRs at the global leve
    Keywords: intellectual property rights, networked enterprise, growth, coordination, innovation network
    JEL: Q55 D23 D85
    Date: 2010
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rii:rridoc:11&r=knm
  4. By: Valeria Costantini (University of Roma Tre); Massimiliano Mazzanti (University of Ferrara, and CERIS-CNR)
    Abstract: This paper aims to explore how the competitiveness of the EU economy, here captured by export dynamics over the medium run (1996-2007), has been affected by environmental regulation both on the public and private sector side. The strong and weak versions of the Porter hypothesis are tested by specifying the export dynamics of five aggregated manufacturing sectors classified by their technological or environmental content using a dynamic panel data estimator applied to a theoretically-based gravity model. When testing the strong version on export performances of manufacturing sectors, the overall effect of environmental policies does not conflict with export competitiveness. When testing the weak version using export flows of environmental goods, environmental policies, as well as innovation activities, all foster competitive advantages of green exports. Public policies and private innovation patterns trigger higher efficiency in the production process, thus turning the perception of environmental protection actions as a production cost into a net benefit. These results constitute useful advice for policy makers involved in the new wave of environmental tax reforms and green recovery packages currently debated at European Union level.
    Keywords: Environmental Policies, Porter Hypothesis, Technological Innovation, Export Performances, Gravity Model, European Union
    JEL: F14 O14 Q43 Q56
    Date: 2010–07
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2010.94&r=knm

This nep-knm issue is ©2010 by Laura Stefanescu. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranty. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part for any purpose. If distributed in part, please include this notice.
General information on the NEP project can be found at http://nep.repec.org. For comments please write to the director of NEP, Marco Novarese at <director@nep.repec.org>. Put “NEP” in the subject, otherwise your mail may be rejected.
NEP’s infrastructure is sponsored by the School of Economics and Finance of Massey University in New Zealand.