nep-knm New Economics Papers
on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy
Issue of 2020‒11‒30
three papers chosen by
Laura Ştefănescu
Centrul European de Studii Manageriale în Administrarea Afacerilor

  1. Growing Through Spinoffs: Corporate Governance, Entry, And Innovation By Maurizio Iacopetta; Raoul Minetti; Pierluigi Murro
  2. Job Creation in the Wind Power Sector Through Marshallian and Jacobian Knowledge Spillovers By Aldieri, Luigi; Grafström, Jonas; Paolo Vinci, Concetto
  3. Imperfect Procedural Knowledge: Evidence from a Field Experiment to Encourage Water Conservation By Tonke, Sebastian

  1. By: Maurizio Iacopetta (Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques); Raoul Minetti (Michigan State University); Pierluigi Murro
    Abstract: New firms are often based on ideas that the founders developed while working for incumbent firms. We study the macroeconomic effects of spinoffs through a growth model of product variety expansion, driven by firm entry, and product innovation. Spinoffs stem from conflicts of interest between incumbent firms' shareholders and employees. The analysis suggests that incumbents invest more in product innovation when knowledge protection is stronger. An inverted-U shape relationship emerges, however, between the intensity of spinoff activities and the strength of the rule of law. A calibration experiment indicates that, with a good rule of law, loosening knowledge protection by 53 reduces product innovation by one fifth in the short run and one seventh in the long run, but boosts the spinoff rate by one tenth and one sixth in the short and long run, respectively. Nevertheless, per capita income growth drops and welfare deteriorates. The trade-offs are broadly consistent with evidence from Italian firms.
    Keywords: Corporate governance; Endogenous growth; Spinoffs
    JEL: E44 O40 G30
    Date: 2020–04–29
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/2c47q6gpge8vrbqjak551kmu6c&r=all
  2. By: Aldieri, Luigi (University of Salerno); Grafström, Jonas (The Ratio Institute); Paolo Vinci, Concetto (University of Salerno)
    Abstract: The empirical evidence concerning the job-creation impact of wind power technology through knowledge spillovers is yet poor. Our objective is to contribute to the literature and bridge this gap. Specifically, our analysis explores to what extent investments in innovation activities of one firm affect the neighbouring firms’ generation of knowledge spillovers in the same sector (intra-industry) or to different sectors (inter-industry) and how this complex knowledge diffusion process impacts the employment dynamics. The econometric analysis relies on a sector-based panel dataset for the USA, Europe, and Japan between 2002 and 2017. The empirical findings suggest that there were negative employment spillovers from the same technology sector (Marshallian externalities) while the spillovers from more diversified activity (Jacobian externalities) have a positive impact on job-creation. The findings have relevant policy implications for governments who are developing an industrial strategy for wind power technology.
    Keywords: Employment; knowledge spillovers; patents; renewable energy; wind power
    JEL: J21 O33 Q20 Q40 Q42
    Date: 2020–11–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:ratioi:0340&r=all
  3. By: Tonke, Sebastian
    Abstract: Individuals often desire to achieve certain outcomes, but potentially lack the procedural knowledge on how to do so. This study provides causal evidence that imperfect procedural knowledge is a severe obstacle to efficient behavior, but can be overcome by providing low-cost information. I conduct a large-scale field experiment with a public water utility to encourage water conservation during a drought. Providing mass-targeted conservation strategies via text message decreases consumption by 5.2 percent. Additional treatments encouraging individuals to develop own strategies are ineffective and rule out alternative explanations such as reminders, awareness of water scarcity, or being asked to reduce consumption.
    Keywords: Field experiment,information provision,resource conservation
    JEL: C93 D91 Q25
    Date: 2020
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:vfsc20:224536&r=all

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