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on Small Business Management |
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Issue of 2013‒01‒07
ten papers chosen by Joao Carlos Correia Leitao University of Beira Interior and Technical University of Lisbon |
| By: | Carlos Carreira (Faculty of Ecobomics University of Coimbra and GEMF); Luís Peres Lopes (Faculty of Ecobomics University of Coimbra and GEMF) |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses the impact on firm-level total factor productivity of both agglomeration economies and regional knowledge, using an unbalanced panel of Portuguese manufacturing firms covering the period 1996–2004. Controlling for the endogeneity problem using the Arellano and Bond (1991) difference GMM estimator, we found that both localization and urbanization economies have a significant and positive effect on firms’ TFP, with the latter playing the most important role. Sectoral specialization economies are important for small and medium firms, but not for large firms. However, larger firms profit more from regional knowledge than smaller ones. |
| Keywords: | agglomeration economies, regional knowledge, total factor productivity, small firms. |
| JEL: | R11 R12 R15 O47 |
| Date: | 2012–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gmf:wpaper:2012-21&r=sbm |
| By: | Crescenzi, Riccardo; Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés |
| Abstract: | This paper looks at the genesis of innovation in the United States from a territorial perspective. The analysis aims to disentangle the impact of local R&D expenditure from other contextual conditions supportive of the process of innovation. Particular emphasis is devoted to the role of socio-economic factors and systems of innovation conditions (‘social filter’ conditions) and to their impact on the returns of R&D expenditure in different territorial contexts. The empirical analysis is based on a Regional Knowledge Production Function approach, leading to an empirical model estimated by means of panel data analysis for the period between 1994 and 2007 at the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)-Economic Area level. The results unveil the complexity of the territorial dynamics of innovation of the US. Local R&D investments are important predictors for regional innovative performance and their impact is highly localized. However, social filter conditions are fundamental for the productivity of innovation efforts. |
| Keywords: | Innovation; R&D; Socioeconomic conditions; Systems of innovation; United States |
| JEL: | O32 O33 R11 R12 |
| Date: | 2012–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:9265&r=sbm |
| By: | Vogel , Alexander (Leuphana University Lueneburg); Wagner, Joachim (Leuphana University Lueneburg and CESIS, Stockholm) |
| Abstract: | This study uses newly available representative data from German business services firms and a continuous treatment approach based on the generalized propensity score to test for a causal effect of R&D activities (measured by the share of engineers and natural scientists in all employees) on the share of exports in total sales. We find evidence for a positive and statistically significant but small causal effect. This result is in line with the (non-causal) results reported in Vogel and Wagner (2012) based on regression models with and without control for unobserved time-invariant firm characteristics. The bottom line, then, is that R&D activity does matter for success of German business services firms on export markets – but not much. |
| Keywords: | Innovation; export; business services; Germany |
| JEL: | F14 |
| Date: | 2012–12–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:cesisp:0293&r=sbm |
| By: | Joachim Wagner (Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany) |
| Abstract: | This study uses newly available representative data from German business services firms and a continuous treatment approach based on the generalized propensity score to test for a causal effect of R&D activities (measured by the share of engineers and natural scientists in all employees) on the share of exports in total sales. We find evidence for a positive and statistically significant but small causal effect. This result is in line with the (non-causal) results reported in Vogel and Wagner (2012) based on regression models with and without control for unobserved time-invariant firm characteristics. The bottom line, then, is that R&D activity does matter for success of German business services firms on export markets – but not much. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, export, business services, Germany |
| JEL: | F14 |
| Date: | 2012–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lue:wpaper:260&r=sbm |
| By: | Okamuro, Hiroyuki; Ikeuchi, Kenta |
| Abstract: | Business start-ups are expected to make major contributions to economic growth. However, most of them lack internal business resources that are necessary for survival and growth. Therefore, business and financial networks that provide business opportunity and external resources are essential for the post-entry performance of start-ups. However, previous studies have regarded such networks as exogenous and not explicitly investigated the determinants of network formation. We argue that the formation of business and financial networks by start-up firms depends on founder’s human capital measured by university education and work experience, and empirically test it with our original survey data of recent Japanese start-ups. Moreover, we focus not only on the size of such networks, but also their quality measured as the status of major partners. Empirical results show that founder’s industry experience for 10 or more years has positive and significant effect on the size of both business and financial networks, while founder’s university education positively affects not only the size, but also the quality of both business and financial networks. Moreover, we also find that founder’s specific strength and personality also significantly affect network formation. We find no distinct differences between the determinants of business and financial network. |
| Keywords: | business network, financial network, start-up, founder, human capital |
| JEL: | L25 L26 M13 |
| Date: | 2012–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hit:cinwps:21&r=sbm |
| By: | Gunnar Pippel |
| Abstract: | Innovation is the result of an interactive process. Knowledge-intensive interactions among different partners are associated with a variety of advantages and disadvantages for the actors involved. Therefore, a rich body of literature investigating the impact of R&D collaboration networks on the innovation performance of firms and regions has developed over the last two decades. Those studies come to different results. The aims of this paper are manifold. First, the paper summarizes the results of the relevant literature. Second, a brief overview of the established methods and approaches used in the literature to investigate this research question is given. The third objective is to answer the question whether the achieved results in the literature are predetermined by the employed methods. Finally, relevant gaps for further research are identified. To answer these questions a meta-analysis of the relevant literature is conducted. This study shows that knowledge-intensive interactions have a rather positive impact on the performance of firms and regions. There is also evidence that the employed methods and approaches used in the literature to investigate this research question predetermine the outcome of the research. |
| Keywords: | innovation, collaboration, network, performance, meta-analysis |
| JEL: | O32 O33 R10 R11 |
| Date: | 2012–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iwh:dispap:14-12&r=sbm |
| By: | Alessandra Proto; Lucia Cusmano; Neil MacCallum; Ricardo Pinto; Paolo Rosso |
| Abstract: | Entrepreneurship and the development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are key drivers of economic growth and job creation. The OECD review series on Boosting Local Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Creation, of which this study is a part, examines the capacity of local economies to support successful new enterprise creation and the growth of small enterprises and make recommendations on how this capacity can be enhanced through local policies. The reviews entail an assessment of entrepreneurship and SME performance at the local level, the local framework conditions affecting this performance and the policies in place to back entrepreneurship and SME development. The reviews involve a comprehensive examination of conditions and policies including the key domains of skills, financing, business support infrastructure and innovation. In the case of Lombardy, the economically most powerful region of Italy, the review includes a specific assessment of local entrepreneurship policies against the framework of the European Union’s Small Business Act (SBA). The SBA prioritises the role of business-friendly regulations for the creation of new start-ups and the development of existing small enterprises. SMEs and their clusters constitute the backbone of Lombardy economical structure. In such a context and given the impact of the persisting current financial and economic downturn, supporting the development of innovative SME and their networks is a priority for addressing the recovery challenge. |
| Date: | 2012–12–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:cfeaaa:2012/20-en&r=sbm |
| By: | Paul Bélanger; Sylvie-Ann Hart |
| Abstract: | This paper looks at a study carried out among 80 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in two Canadian cities, Montréal and Winnipeg, based on a survey and case studies, which show the importance of innovation among Canadian SMEs. These innovations in turn create new demands for skill development, both through formal training and in informal activities. The outcomes of the study show two significant trends. First, an uneven development of learning activities among SMEs is related not only to the size of firms, but also to their orientation towards innovation and shared productivity measures. Second, because they do not have enough internal resources and flexibility to drive productivity growth through learning and training by themselves, SMEs need some form of group based mechanisms to solve this structural problem. However, it is noted that participation of unskilled employees in both formal and informal learning remains an important challenge for the great majority of SMEs. |
| Date: | 2012–12–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:cfeaaa:2012/19-en&r=sbm |
| By: | Nishimura, Junichi; Okamuro, Hiroyuki |
| Abstract: | Industrial clusters have attracted considerable attention worldwide for their expected contribution to regional innovation. Recently, policymakers in various countries have developed specific cluster policies. However, there exist few empirical studies on cluster policies. Focusing on the Industrial Cluster Project (ICP) in Japan initiated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2001, we address two research questions on the support programs of the cluster policies: if the project participants who exploit various support programs are more successful in network formation within the cluster than others, and which kind of support program contributes to firm performance. We pay special attention to the differences between direct R&D support and indirect networking/coordination support. The estimation results, which are based on recent original survey data, suggest that cluster participants who exploit support programs (especially indirect support measures) expand the industry-university-government network after participating in the ICP. Moreover, we find that not every support program contributes to firm performance; firms should therefore select the program that is most aligned with their aims. Indirect support programs have an extensive and strong impact on output whereas direct R&D support has only a weak effect. |
| Keywords: | cluster policy, industrial cluster, R&D support, subsidy, networking |
| JEL: | O25 O38 R11 |
| Date: | 2012–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hit:cinwps:22&r=sbm |
| By: | Anna Butzin (Institute for Work and Technology Germany); Brigitta Widmaier (Institute for Work and Technology Germany) |
| Abstract: | The paper presents the methodology of Innovation Biographies that has been designed to study the time-space dynamics of knowledge and ways of knowledge combination in innovation processes. Innovation Biographies allow capturing relationships, contextual settings and different kinds of knowledge and enable insights into the evolvement and development of innovations. By following the process of creation with specific interviewing methods and triangulation, the biography of an innovation is reconstructed including the evolution of related knowledge. Data collection is able to transcend sectoral as well as local, regional or national categories and sheds light on cross-sectoral knowledge combinations and its multi-scalar reach. |
| Keywords: | Innovation Biographies, knowledge dynamics, knowledge combinations, time-space paths, multi-level view |
| JEL: | D83 O12 O31 R11 |
| Date: | 2012–12–19 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pum:wpaper:2012-07&r=sbm |