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on Small Business Management |
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Issue of 2024‒04‒29
23 papers chosen by |
| By: | Panteleimon Kruglov; Charles Shaw |
| Abstract: | This study explores the relationship between R&D intensity, as a measure of innovation, and financial performance among S&P 500 companies over 100 quarters from 1998 to 2023, including multiple crisis periods. It challenges the conventional wisdom that larger companies are more prone to innovate, using a comprehensive dataset across various industries. The analysis reveals diverse associations between innovation and key financial indicators such as firm size, assets, EBITDA, and tangibility. Our findings underscore the importance of innovation in enhancing firm competitiveness and market positioning, highlighting the effectiveness of countercyclical innovation policies. This research contributes to the debate on the role of R&D investments in driving firm value, offering new insights for both academic and policy discussions. |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2403.10982&r=sbm |
| By: | Leogrande, Angelo |
| Abstract: | In this article I analyzed the propensity for patenting in Italian regions through the use of ISTAT-BES data. The static analysis shows the presence of a significant gap between the northern regions and the southern regions in the period between 2004 and 2019. The econometric analysis applied with panel models highlights the relationships that the propensity to patent has with respect to the determinants of innovation systems at regional level. The results are critically discussed with economic policy recommendations. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, Innovation and Invention, Management of Technological Innovation and R&D, Technological Change, Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital |
| JEL: | O30 O31 O32 O33 O34 |
| Date: | 2024–03–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:120553&r=sbm |
| By: | Maria Elisavet Balta (Kent Business School, University of Kent); Thanos Papadopoulos (Kent Business School, University of Kent); Konstantina Spanaki (Audencia Business School) |
| Abstract: | Purpose This paper aims to draw on the Dynamic Capabilities View to discuss how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) use digital technologies to develop digital capabilities that will enable them to change their current business model and trajectory, that is, to pivot-within turbulent environments, and subsequently to survive and grow. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected and analysed qualitative data from 26 SMEs in South-East England that have used digital technologies to pivot during the pandemic. The data was collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews. The authors analysed the data by creating first-order concepts, second-order themes, and aggregating dimensions. Findings The findings suggest that (1) digital technologies enable pivoting by facilitating the creation of the following digital capability types: "digital sensing", "digital seizing" and "digital transforming"; (2) Each of these digital capability types is underpinned by micro-foundations (sub-capabilities) and shaped by the digital culture of the organisation. (3) these capabilities are triggered by the turbulent environment and the existing digital technologies, and are shaped by the digital culture. Originality/value The authors contribute to the literature of digital entrepreneurship as the authors illustrate (1) how the micro-foundations of digital capabilities, as facilitated by digital technologies, assist pivoting; and (2) the process from key activities during pivoting to second-order themes that represent micro-foundations to digital (dynamic) capabilities for pivoting in turbulent environments. The study highlights the importance of digital pivoting for businesses in the UK Southeast that have many aspirations for growth and innovation, whilst striving to address multiple challenges including digital divide and literacy, inflation and cost of living crisis, as well as supply chain issues. |
| Keywords: | pivoting digital technologies digital capabilities opportunities barriers SMEs UK Southeast, pivoting, digital technologies, digital capabilities opportunities, barriers, SMEs, UK Southeast |
| Date: | 2024–03–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04513406&r=sbm |
| By: | Harrigan, James; Reshef, Ariell; Toubal, Farid |
| Abstract: | We study the impact of techies — engineers and other technically trained workers — on firm-level productivity. We first report new facts on the role of techies in the firm by leveraging French administrative data and unique surveys. Techies are STEM-skill intensive and are associated with innovation, as well as with technology adoption, management, and diffusion within firms. Using structural econometric methods, we estimate the causal effect of techies on firm-level Hicks-neutral productivity in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries. We find that techies raise firm-level productivity, and this effect goes beyond the employment of R\&D workers, extending to ICT and other techies. In non-manufacturing firms, the impact of techies on productivity operates mostly through ICT and other techies, not R\&D workers. Engineers have a greater effect on productivity than technicians. |
| Keywords: | productivity, R&D, ICT, techies, STEM skills |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpm:docweb:2401&r=sbm |
| By: | Timothy R. Wojan; Stephan J. Goetz; Zheng Tian; Luyi Han |
| Abstract: | The study of grassroots design—applying structured, creative processes to the usability or aesthetics of a product without input from professional design consultancies—remains under investigated. If design comprises a mediation between people and technology whereby technologies are made more accessible or more likely to delight, then the process by which new grassroots inventions are transformed into innovations valued in markets cannot be fully understood. This paper uses U.S. data on the design orientation of respondents in the 2014 Rural Establishment Innovation Survey linked to longitudinal data on the same firms to examine the association between design, innovation, and employment and payroll growth. Findings from the research will inform questions to be investigated in the recently collected 2022 Annual Business Survey (ABS) that for the first time contains a Design module. |
| Keywords: | innovation, research methods, inclusive design, evaluation |
| JEL: | C51 O31 R11 Z11 |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cen:wpaper:24-17&r=sbm |
| By: | Carolin Nast; Tom Broekel; Doris Entner |
| Abstract: | This study investigated two major trends shaping contemporary technological progress: the growing complexity of innovation and the increasing reliance on government support for private research and development (R&D). We analyzed United States patent data from 1981 to 2016 using structural vector autoregressions and uncovered an indirect interplay between these trends. Our findings showed that government incentives and support played a crucial role in spurring private-sector innovation. This government-fueled innovation, in turn, paved the way for advancements in more intricate and sophisticated technological areas. Our study sheds light on the dual role of the United States' innovation policy over the past four decades; the policy has not only accelerated technological advancement but also steered it toward increasingly complex domains. While this trend presents opportunities for economic growth and technological breakthroughs, it also poses challenges, including the potential for further escalating R&D costs. This research has significant implications for policymakers and industry leaders, suggesting a need for a balanced approach to fostering innovation while considering the long-term economic and technological landscape. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, patents, technological complexity, government R&D |
| JEL: | O31 O33 O38 |
| Date: | 2024–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egu:wpaper:2407&r=sbm |
| By: | Bastian Krieger; Malte Prüfer; Linus Strecke |
| Abstract: | Public procurement accounts for 15 to 20 percent of global GDP and is considered an effective innovation policy. However, the detrimental effects of non-innovative public procurement - public procurement tenders awarded solely based on their price - on firm innovations have been largely neglected, even though it represents the majority of all tenders. We contribute by i) developing a comprehensive theory on the effects of winning non-innovative public procurement tenders as a firm and ii) empirically testing our theory by combining representative German data with two-way fixed effect difference-in-differences estimations. In total, the estimations demonstrate winning non-innovative public procurement reduces firms’ product and process innovations on the one hand, and increases firms’ focus on their established products and services on the other hand. These results confirm our theory and empirically hold at the level of the individual firm and the German enterprise sector. |
| Keywords: | Public procurement, Firm innovation, Demand side |
| Date: | 2024–03–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ete:ecoomp:739379&r=sbm |
| By: | Joachim Wagner (Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre and Kiel Centre for Globalization) |
| Abstract: | The use of digital technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, or smart devices can be expected to go hand in hand with higher productivity and lower trade costs, and, therefore, to be positively related to export activities. This paper uses firm level data for manufacturing enterprises from the 27 member countries of the European Union to shed further light on this issue by investigating the link between the digitalization intensity of a firm and extensive margins of exports. Applying a new machine-learning estimator, Kernel-Regularized Least Squares (KRLS), which does not impose any restrictive assumptions for the functional form of the relation between margins of exports, digitalization intensity, and any control variables, we find that firms which use more digital technologies do more often export, do more often export to various destinations all over the world, and do export to more different destinations |
| Keywords: | Digital technologies, exports, firm level data, Flash Eurobarometer 486, kernel-regularized least squares (KRLS) |
| JEL: | D22 F14 |
| Date: | 2024–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lue:wpaper:428&r=sbm |
| By: | Andrés Rodríguez-Pose; Zhuoying You; |
| Abstract: | Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are revolutionising production, yet their potential to stimulate innovation and change innovation patterns remains underexplored. This paper examines whether AI and robotics can spearhead technological innovation, with a particular focus on their capacity to deliver where other policies have mostly failed: less developed cities and regions. We resort to OLS and IV-2SLS methods to probe the direct and moderating influences of AI and robotics on technological innovation across 270 Chinese cities. We further employ quantile regression analysis to assess their impacts on innovation in more and less innovative cities. The findings reveal that AI and robotics significantly promote technological innovation, with a pronounced impact in cities at or below the technological frontier. Additionally, the use of AI and robotics improves the returns of investment in science and technology (S&T) on technological innovation. AI and robotics moderating effects are often more pronounced in less innovative cities, meaning that AI and robotics are not just powerful instruments for the promotion of innovation but also effective mechanisms to reduce the yawning gap in regional innovation between Chinese innovation hubs and the rest of the country. |
| Keywords: | AI, robotics, China, technological innovation, territorial inequality |
| Date: | 2024–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:egu:wpaper:2406&r=sbm |
| By: | Etienne Fakaba Sissoko; Abdoulaye N'Tigui Konare; Ousmane Mariko (USSGB - Université des sciences sociales et de gestion de Bamako, CREG - Centre de recherche en économie de Grenoble - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes) |
| Abstract: | This study delves into female entrepreneurship in Mali, a context defined by complex and shifting socio-economic challenges. It thoroughly investigates the unique difficulties faced by Malian female entrepreneurs and their resilience strategies. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study combines qualitative and quantitative analyses, conducting interviews with 120 entrepreneurs. This allows for an understanding of both overarching trends and individual experiences. The findings reveal that, despite hurdles such as limited access to financing, marketing and communication challenges, and balancing professional and family responsibilities, these women play a vital yet often undervalued role in Mali's economy. Their adaptability is evident in their activity diversification and innovation. The analysis also highlights the impact of political and economic crises, including significant inflation, on female entrepreneurship. Existing supportive policies are hindered by bureaucratic issues and a lack of inter-institutional coordination. The theoretical framework draws on concepts such as female empowerment, social capital, and gender roles to better comprehend these experiences. The study enriches existing literature by focusing on an often-overlooked African context, thereby deepening the understanding of female entrepreneurship. It underscores the importance for policymakers to recognize and actively support female entrepreneurship and encourages managers to adopt inclusive practices. Targeted public policies and programs are essential to overcome challenges and maximize the potential of Malian female entrepreneurs. In conclusion, this research offers valuable insights into the complexities and dynamics of female entrepreneurship in Mali, highlighting the need to support these women entrepreneurs, who are significant contributors to their society and economy. |
| Abstract: | Cette étude examine l'entrepreneuriat féminin au Mali, un contexte caractérisé par des défis socio-économiques complexes et changeants. Elle analyse en profondeur les difficultés uniques auxquelles les entrepreneures maliennes sont confrontées et leurs stratégies de résilience. Utilisant une méthode mixte, l'étude combine analyses qualitatives et quantitatives, avec des entretiens menés auprès de 120 entrepreneures. Cela permet de saisir à la fois les tendances globales et les expériences personnelles. Les résultats montrent que, malgré des obstacles tels que l'accès limité au financement, les défis de marketing et de communication, et la conciliation entre responsabilités professionnelles et familiales, ces femmes jouent un rôle crucial, mais souvent sous-évalué dans l'économie malienne. Leur adaptabilité se manifeste par la diversification des activités et l'innovation. L'analyse met également en lumière l'impact des crises politiques et économiques, y compris une inflation notable, sur l'entrepreneuriat féminin. Les politiques de soutien existantes sont freinées par des problématiques bureaucratiques et un manque de coordination interinstitutionnelle. Le cadre théorique s'appuie sur des notions telles que l'empowerment féminin, le capital social, et les rôles de genre pour mieux comprendre ces expériences. L'étude enrichit la littérature existante en se focalisant sur un contexte africain souvent négligé, approfondissant ainsi la compréhension de l'entrepreneuriat féminin. Elle souligne l'importance pour les décideurs politiques de reconnaitre et soutenir l'entrepreneuriat féminin et encourage les gestionnaires à adopter des pratiques inclusives. Des politiques publiques et des programmes ciblés sont essentiels pour surmonter les défis et maximiser le potentiel des entrepreneures maliennes. En conclusion, cette recherche offre des insights précieux sur les complexités et la dynamique de l'entrepreneuriat féminin au Mali, mettant en évidence la nécessité de soutenir ces femmes entrepreneures, contributrices significatives à leur société et à l'économie. Entrepreneurship; Female; Resilience; Mali; Informal Sector. Empirical research |
| Keywords: | Entrepreneurship, Female, Resilience, Informal Sector, Mali, Entrepreneuriat, Féminin, Résilience, Secteur informel |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04511932&r=sbm |
| By: | Blind, Knut; Münch, Florian |
| Abstract: | To examine the different roles of regulation and standards in the age of globalisation, we hypothesize and investigate the relation of regulation and national and international standards on the one hand with innovation input (R&D expenditure) and innovation output (patents) on the other hand. The analysis is based on data of 26 high-income countries between 1998 and 2018. There are two main results. Firstly, international standards outperform both de-regulation and national standardisation as they are positively associated with R&D expenditure and patenting. On the other hand, national standards – once believed a source of competitiveness – are negatively related to patents and hence seem to localize economies and slow-down innovation. Secondly, de-regulation does not correlate positively with R&D expenditure, but with increased patenting. We argue the former suggest businesses did not – as assumed – spend freed up resources on R&D, but instead strategically used patenting to replace lost regulation-based protection with patent fences. This casts doubts on the added social value of de-regulation induced innovation. |
| Keywords: | globalization; innovation; patents; R&D; regulation; standardization |
| JEL: | R14 J01 N0 |
| Date: | 2024–03–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:122260&r=sbm |
| By: | Kathryn Bonney; Cory Breaux; Catherine Buffington; Emin Dinlersoz; Lucia Foster; Nathan Goldschlag; John Haltiwanger; Zachary Kroff; Keith Savage |
| Abstract: | Timely and accurate measurement of AI use by firms is both challenging and crucial for understanding the impacts of AI on the U.S. economy. We provide new, real-time estimates of current and expected future use of AI for business purposes based on the Business Trends and Outlook Survey for September 2023 to February 2024. During this period, bi-weekly estimates of AI use rate rose from 3.7% to 5.4%, with an expected rate of about 6.6% by early Fall 2024. The fraction of workers at businesses that use AI is higher, especially for large businesses and in the Information sector. AI use is higher in large firms but the relationship between AI use and firm size is non-monotonic. In contrast, AI use is higher in young firms although, on an employment-weighted basis, is U-shaped in firm age. Common uses of AI include marketing automation, virtual agents, and data/text analytics. AI users often utilize AI to substitute for worker tasks and equipment/software, but few report reductions in employment due to AI use. Many firms undergo organizational changes to accommodate AI, particularly by training staff, developing new workflows, and purchasing cloud services/storage. AI users also exhibit better overall performance and higher incidence of employment expansion compared to other businesses. The most common reason for non-adoption is the inapplicability of AI to the business. |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cen:wpaper:24-16&r=sbm |
| By: | Bridget Kauma (University of Sussex); Giordano Mion (ESSEC Business School) |
| Keywords: | Firm-level dataset, Merging, BSD, FAME, VAT, FICUS, FARE, Productivity, Markups, UK, France, regional disparities, density |
| JEL: | R12 D24 |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:anj:wpaper:039&r=sbm |
| By: | Carlo Gianelle (European Commission – DG REGIO); Fabrizio Guzzo (European Commission - JRC); Javier Barbero (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid); Simone Salotti (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | Smart Specialisation strategies are a legally binding condition for access to European Cohesion Policy funding for research and innovation in the period 2014-2020, and provide the strategic governance framework to guide investment in those areas. Weak or underdeveloped governance of Smart Specialisation strategies can undermine the effectiveness of the policy. This Policy Insight presents a general equilibrium analysis of the impact of the quality of Smart Specialisation governance on its macroeconomic returns. A combination of survey data on Smart Specialisation governance and the RHOMOLO spatial general equilibrium model shows that improving the Smart Specialisation policy governance significantly increases the investment-related impact of the policy. On the other hand, the results suggest that a considerably greater impact can be achieved by improving governance quality. This finding calls for interventions targeting those areas where the quality of policy governance is lagging behind. |
| Keywords: | rhomolo, region, growth, cohesion policy, smart specialisation |
| JEL: | C68 R13 |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc136582&r=sbm |
| By: | Nguyen, Hang T. T. |
| Abstract: | This paper presents an empirical analysis of the relationship between the corporate income tax (CIT) and the growth of total factor productivity (TFP) within European firms. Using data from the AMADEUS database over the 2005-2013 period, I measure the TFP of each firm using Wooldridge's (2009) methodology, alongside four alternative approaches introduced by Olley and Pakes (1996), Levinsohn and Petrin (2003), Ackerberg et al. (2015), and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The baseline investigation follows the TFP catch-up framework of Griffith et al. (2009). While my analysis corroborates prior findings indicating a negative relationship between CIT rates and the speed with which firms converge to the productivity frontier (productivity catch-up, Gemmell et al., 2018), it also uncovers a positive association between CIT rates and the average growth of productivity. Thus, the evidence reveals a non-linear relationship between corporate taxation and firms' productivity growth. Heterogeneity tests show that corporate income taxation is more relevant for the productivity growth of small-scale enterprises and domestic entities. These findings are robust to a variety of alternative specifications and tests. |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:arqudp:289456&r=sbm |
| By: | OECD |
| Abstract: | The Autonomous Province of Trento (Trentino) is among the most productive regions in Europe, but over the past two decades its productivity growth has stagnated. As a result, the productivity gap of Trentino widened by over 20% compared to regions with the same productivity level in 2000. The benchmarking of productivity drivers in Trentino with those of “peer” regions points to several policy priorities, including: reviving productivity in tradeable sectors, also through increased internationalisation; increasing the share of the labour force with a tertiary education; and getting more out of public R&D while boosting private sector R&D. |
| Keywords: | drivers of productivity, international comparison, sectoral analysis, subnational productivity |
| JEL: | D24 J21 J24 L11 O3 O47 R11 |
| Date: | 2024–04–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:cfeaaa:2024/03-en&r=sbm |
| By: | Jean-Luc Arregle (EM - EMLyon Business School); Andrea Calabrò (IPAG Business School); Michael A. Hitt (Texas A&M University [College Station], TTU - Texas Tech University [Lubbock]); Liena Kano (University of Calgary); Christian Schwens (Universität zu Köln = University of Cologne) |
| Abstract: | Over the past decade, a consensus has crystallized recognizing the significance of family firm internationalization in international business (IB) research. This recognition comes with substantial opportunities, yet it also presents challenges, such as the pressing need for a more cohesive integration of the family business and IB domains. In this article, we (re)emphasize the relevance of family firm internationalization for IB research considering three IB grand challenges and two important aspects of internationalization where family firms can particularly contribute. We also propose several theoretical and methodological avenues for future studies to help further increase the understanding of family firm internationalization and of IB theories. Finally, we provide an overview of the core insights from the articles included in the related special issue and develop integrative conclusions about the research. |
| Keywords: | Family firm, internationalization |
| Date: | 2024–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04514340&r=sbm |
| By: | Anabela Marques Santos (European Commission - JRC); Javier Barbero (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid); Simone Salotti (European Commission - JRC); Andrea Conte (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | The recent increase in the use of digital technologies has brought benefits in terms of increased productivity, sales and exports. The COVID-19 crisis accelerated the digital transition, pushing both governments and businesses to invest more in information and communication technology (ICT). Policy makers and researchers are interested in assessing the macroeconomic and distributional effects of digitalisation on the labour market. The impact of digitalisation may be either positive or negative, and may affect certain jobs and sectors more than others. Several recent studies have quantified the net impact of digital technologies on employment, with mixed results. This Policy Insight reports the results of a study using European Union (EU) data from 1995 to 2019, which finds a net positive effect, albeit heterogeneous across countries. |
| Keywords: | digitalisation, employment |
| JEL: | C68 R13 |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc136551&r=sbm |
| By: | Ertl, Antal; Horn, Dániel; Kiss, Hubert János |
| Abstract: | Chowdhury, Sutter and Zimmermann (2022) assessed the risk, time, and social preferences of family members in rural Bangladesh, presenting two main findings. First, there is a strong and positive association between family members' preferences, even when controlling for personality traits and family background. Second, families can be grouped into two clusters: approximately 20% of the families are characterized by relatively impatient, risk-averse, and spiteful members, while the rest of the families have relatively patient, risk-tolerant, and prosocial members. Recognizing the pivotal role of cluster analysis in deriving the second result, we first successfully computationally reproduced the results, and then we conducted two types of robustness checks. The first examines the transformation of variables (continuous or categorical), affecting the proximity measure that is crucial to cluster analysis. The second assesses the effect of varying the number of clusters on the findings. Some results are robust, as we consistently find the small cluster of families identified by Chowdhury et al. (2022). However, divergent outcomes emerge with categorical variables (a logical choice given their nature) and a larger number of clusters (3 or 4). We conclude that, although the cluster analysis by Chowdhury et al. (2022) is valid, its outcomes significantly depend on the researcher's assumptions and choices. Careful consideration of several alternatives is essential in exploratory cluster analysis to identify stable groups. |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:i4rdps:105&r=sbm |
| By: | Jose-Miguel Benavente; Claudio Bravo-Ortega; Pablo Egaña-delSol; Bronwyn H. Hall |
| Abstract: | We analyze how expropriation risk reduces incentives for innovation and reallocates resources from the innovative sector, building on Romer’s(1990) model. Our framework predicts the R&D expenditure, the share of human capital in R&D, the number of patents, technical progress, and economic growth are all lower due to lower expected profits and patent devaluation in the presence of expropriation risks. Empirical analyses, based on a LASSO Instrumental Variable approach and a novel comprehensive dataset spanning nearly two decades, confirm our theoretical predictions. We find robust evidence that expropriation risk, such as corruption, negatively impacts innovation by reducing R&D expenditure, human capital in R&D, number of patents, scientific publications, and the Economic Complexity Index, which is our proxy for technical progress. These findings highlight the detrimental effects of expropriation risk on innovation and economic development at the country level. |
| JEL: | O17 O30 O50 |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32288&r=sbm |
| By: | MORIKAWA Masayuki |
| Abstract: | With the rapid expansion of the use of artificial intelligence (AI), its effects on economic growth and the labor market are attracting attention from researchers. However, the lack of statistical data on the actual use of AI has been a major obstacle to empirical research. Based on an original survey of firms and workers, this study provides an overview of the use of AI and other automation technologies in Japan, the characteristics of firms and workers who use these technologies, and their views on the effects of AI on productivity and employment. According to the results, first, the number of AI-using firms is increasing rapidly, and firms with a larger share of highly educated workers have a greater tendency to use AI. Robot-using firms are also increasing, but the relationship of their use to workers’ education is weak, suggesting that the impact on the labor market is different for each technology. Second, AI-using firms have higher productivity, higher average wages, and higher expected medium-term growth rates. Third, AI-using firms expect that while it will increase their own productivity and wages, it may decrease their employment. Fourth, even at the worker level, more educated workers are more likely to use AI, suggesting that AI and education are complementary at this stage. Fifth, workers who use AI evaluate their work productivity to have increased by about 20% on average, suggesting that AI could potentially have a fairly large productivity enhancing effect. |
| Date: | 2024–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:rdpsjp:24011&r=sbm |
| By: | Leogrande, Angelo |
| Abstract: | In the following article I take into consideration the role of knowledge workers in the Italian regions. The analysed data refers to the ISTAT-BES database. The metric analysis consists of an in-depth analysis of the trends of the regions and macro-regions, followed by clustering with the k-Means algorithm, the application of machine learning algorithms for prediction, and the presentation of an econometric model with panel methods date. The results are also critically discussed in light of the North-South divide and the economic policy implications. |
| Date: | 2024–03–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:4bv6a&r=sbm |
| By: | de Brauw, Alan; Ceballos, Francisco; Le, Ly; Soneja, Payal |
| Abstract: | During the first half of 2023, researchers associated with Work Package 2 (WP2) of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation (SHiFT) conducted three linked surveys to learn more about micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that currently supply foods within urban, peri-urban, and rural locations in Viet Nam and contribute to developing ways to foster their supply of sustainable nutritious foods. 1 Therefore, the surveys had three linked goals—to better characterize the business environment in which MSMEs operate; to understand any constraints they face in selling more sustainable nutritious foods; and to help inform interventions with scaling potential that could increase the availability of sustainable nutritious foods for consumers. The first survey was a listing exercise (or a short audit, as it is called by Work Package 1 of SHiFT). This listing exercise was almost exclusively an observational exercise, taking place within selected areas of the urban, peri-urban, and rural sites. The idea was to understand the proportion of different types of businesses available, what was sold at those businesses, and to understand if people could sit down at the establishment or not (particularly for restaurants). The second survey was a longer survey targeting outlets from the listing exercise that had a higher chance of being MSMEs and could potentially modify their food offerings. This MSME survey inquired about labor use, sources of foods or ingredients for foods sold, asset holdings of the business, access to and use of financial instruments, degree of formality, and perceptions of and desire to sell more sustainable nutritious foods. The MSME survey, in turn, was used to seed a third survey, targeted at suppliers, with the objective of identifying any potential constraints at the supplier level for expanding the offering of sustainable nutritious foods. Outlets participating in the MSME survey were asked to share the contact information of some of their suppliers, and a subset of these were reached by phone and administered a reduced version of the MSME questionnaire, inquiring about their businesses and perceptions. A secondary goal of the survey was to understand to what extent employment of women and youth relates to MSME activity. In particular, when devising interventions to help MSMEs offer more sustainable nutritious foods, we want to ensure that those interventions have either a positive or neutral effect on employment among women and youth; in other words, we want to ensure that they do not have a negative effect on employment among these populations. |
| Keywords: | foods; surveys; employment; enterprises; sustainability; nutrition; small and medium enterprises; Vietnam; South-eastern Asia; Asia |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:140164&r=sbm |