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on Small Business Management |
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Issue of 2011‒04‒16
four papers chosen by Joao Carlos Correia Leitao University of Beira Interior and Technical University of Lisbon |
| By: | Niels Bosma (Utrecht University); Jolanda Hessels (EIM Business School and Policy Research, Zoetermeer, and Erasmus School of Economics, Rotterdam); Veronique Schutjens (Utrecht University); Mirjam van Praag (University of Amsterdam); Ingrid Verheul (Rotterdam School of Economics (EUR)) |
| Abstract: | In the media role models are increasingly being acknowledged as an influential factor in explaining the reasons for the choice of occupation and career. Various conceptual studies have proposed links between role models and entrepreneurial intentions. However, empirical research aimed at establishing the importance of role models for (nascent) entrepreneurs is scarce. Knowledge of the presence of entrepreneurial role models, their specific functions and characteristics is therefore limited. Our explorative empirical study is a first step towards filling this gap. Our study is based on the outcomes of a questionnaire completed by a representative sample of 292 entrepreneurs in three major Dutch cities - entrepreneurs who have recently started up a business in the retail, hotel and restaurant sectors, business services and other services. We provide indications of the presence and importance of entrepreneurial role models, the function of these role models, the similarity between the entrepreneur and the role model, and the strength of their relationship. |
| Keywords: | role models; entrepreneurs; human capital; new firm start-ups |
| JEL: | L26 M13 J24 |
| Date: | 2011–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:uvatin:20110061&r=sbm |
| By: | Raquel Ortega-Argilés (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona); Mariacristina Piva (-); Marco Vivarelli (-) |
| Abstract: | The literature has pointed to different causes to explain the productivity gap between Europe and United States in the last decades. This paper tests the hypothesis that the lower European productivity performance in comparison with the US can be explained not only by a lower level of corporate R&D investment, but also by a lower capacity to translate R&D investment into productivity gains. The proposed microeconometric estimates are based on a unique longitudinal database covering the period 1990-2008 and comprising 1,809 US and European companies for a total of 16,079 observations. Consistent with previous literature, we find robust evidence of a significant impact of R&D on productivity; however – using different estimation techniques - the R&D coefficients for the US firms always turn out to be significantly higher. To see to what extent these transatlantic differences may be related to the different sectoral structures in the US and the EU, we differentiated the analysis by sectors. The result is that both in manufacturing, services and high-tech sectors US firms are more efficient in translating their R&D investments into productivity increases. |
| Keywords: | R&D, productivity, embodied technological change, US, EU. JEL classification:O33 |
| Date: | 2011–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ira:wpaper:201103&r=sbm |
| By: | Sterlacchini, Alessandro; Venturini, Francesco |
| Abstract: | Using data for twelve manufacturing industries over the period 1980-2006, we perform for Italy and Spain a dynamic panel estimation of the long-run elasticity of TFP with respect to R&D capital. The results show that in Spain high-tech industries have experienced a similar or slightly higher R&D elasticity than their Italian counterparts. This is mainly attributable to what occurred from the mid 1990s onwards when, thanks to increasing R&D efforts, the Spanish industries have been able to catch up with the respect to the Italian ones. The policy implications of the above findings are discussed. |
| Keywords: | Manufacturing industries; Italy and Spain; Productivity growth; R&D capital |
| JEL: | O30 O40 L60 |
| Date: | 2011–04–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:30048&r=sbm |
| By: | Massimo, Riccaboni; Jakub, Growiec; Fabio, Pammolli |
| Abstract: | We provide a detailed analysis of a generalized proportional growth model (GPGM) of innovation and corporate dynamics that encompasses the Gibrat’s Law of Proportionate Effect and the Simon growth process as particular instances. The predictions of the model are derived in terms of (i) firm size distribution, (ii) the distribution of firm growth rates, and (iii-iv) the relationships between firm size and the mean and variance of firm growth rates. We test the model against data from the worldwide pharmaceutical industry and find its predictions to be in good agreement with empirical evidence on all four dimensions. |
| Keywords: | Business firm size; firm growth distribution; Gibrat’s Law; Pareto distribution; lognormal distribution; size-variance relationship. |
| JEL: | L25 L65 L11 C49 |
| Date: | 2011–03–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:30046&r=sbm |