nep-tid New Economics Papers
on Technology and Industrial Dynamics
Issue of 2007‒09‒24
five papers chosen by
Rui Baptista
Technical University of Lisbon

  1. Do Mergers of Potentially Dominant Firms foster Innovation? An Empirical Analysis for the Manufacturing Sector By Elena Cefis; Anna Sabidussi; Hans Schenk
  2. Sector Switching: An Unexplored Dimension of Firm Dynamics in Developing Countries By Carol Newman; John Rand; Finn Tarp
  3. Cooperative R&D under Uncertainty with Free Entry By Nisvan Erkal:Daniel Piccinin
  4. The Role of Innovation in Merger Policy: Europe’s Efficiency Defence versus America’s Innovation Markets Approach By Elena Cefis; Mark Grondsma; Anna Sabidussi; Hans Schenk
  5. What Is the Value of Entrepreneurship? A Review of Recent Research By C. Mirjam van Praag; Peter H. Versloot

  1. By: Elena Cefis; Anna Sabidussi; Hans Schenk
    Abstract: We investigate the effects of M&A on innovation in the specific context of potential or realized market dominance. Authorities are challenged by balancing both detrimental and beneficial effects of mergers on innovation, especially when a merger threatens to result in market dominance, while firms would wish to uncover all the potential benefits arising from M&A. The effects of M&As on innovation have been tested on a panel dataset, constructed from the Dutch Community Innovation Survey and the Dutch Business Register, including around 1000 manufacturing companies. We have adopted a comprehensive approach, taking into consideration three dimensions of innovation: innovation inputs, innovation outputs and efficiency. The results show that M&As performed in the previous 3-5 years have a positive and significant effect on innovation except R&D expenses and innovation efficiencies. The results also suggest that technological regimes are critical to understanding the patterns of innovation.
    Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions, Innovation, Market Dominance
    JEL: C14 D21 L11 L25
    Date: 2007–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:use:tkiwps:0720&r=tid
  2. By: Carol Newman (Department of Economics, Trinity College Dublin); John Rand (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen); Finn Tarp (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)
    Abstract: Much of the literature on industry evolution has found firm dynamics to be an important source of sector-level productivity growth. In this paper, we ask whether the delineation of entry and exit firms matters in assessing the impact of firm turnover. Using detailed firm level data from Vietnam, it emerges that efficiency differences between sector switchers and exit/entry firms exist. Distinguishing between switchers and firm entry/exit is crucial for understanding the contribution of firm turnover to overall productivity growth. Moreover, we uncover distinct and illuminating firm and sector-level determinants of firm exit and switching, which need to be carefully considered in the search for effective policy.
    Keywords: Firm dynamics, sector switching, efficiency, Vietnam
    JEL: D21 L6 O14
    Date: 2007–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tcd:tcduee:tep1007&r=tid
  3. By: Nisvan Erkal:Daniel Piccinin
    Abstract: In the last few decades, the effects of cooperative R&D arrangements on innovation and welfare have played an important role in policy making. The goal of this paper is to analyze the effects of cooperative R&D arrangements in a model with a stochastic R&D process and output spillovers. Our main innovation is to allow for free entry in both the R&D race and the product market. To determine the desirability of cooperation in R&D environments, we compare three different ways of organizing R&D activities: R&D competition, R&D cartels, and RJV cartels. In contrast with the literature, we assume that cooperative R&D arrangements do not have to include all of the firms in the industry. We show that sharing of research outcomes is a necessary condition for the profitability of cooperative R&D arrangements with free entry. The profitability of RJV cartels depends on their size. The impact of cooperative R&D arrangements on the aggregate level of innovation depends on whether there are participants in the R&D race who are a part of the cooperative R&D arrangement. If some outsiders choose to participate in the R&D race, the aggregate rate of innovation remains unaffected by the formation of a cooperative R&D arrangement. Otherwise, it increases. R&D cartels may be welfare-improving in cases when they cause the aggregate rate of innovation to increase. In such cases, it may be desirable to subsidize them. Since sharing of R&D outcomes affects the equilibrium number of firms in the product market after the R&D race, the consumer welfare effects of RJV cartels are sensitive to the specification of consumer preferences. Subsidies may be desirable in cases of larger RJVs since they are the ones which are less likely to be profitable.
    Keywords: Cooperative R&D; Research joint ventures; Free entry; Uncertain R&D; Technology spillovers.
    JEL: L1 L4 O3
    Date: 2007
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mlb:wpaper:999&r=tid
  4. By: Elena Cefis; Mark Grondsma; Anna Sabidussi; Hans Schenk
    Abstract: Changes in the world’s economies and discussions in the literature about the growing importance of innovation to firms have given rise to a demand for expanding the analysis of merger policy. The present study focuses on the different criteria used to assess the impact of M&A activities on innovation. The analysis is both theoretical and empirical. From a theoretical perspective, two main approaches are discussed: the efficiency defence approach, adopted in Europe, and the innovation markets doctrine as developed in the United States. The present paper contributes to the literature by suggesting that an integration of the two approaches would significantly improve M&A assessment. On the empirical side, two cases that have been scrutinised by both the European Commission and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission are discussed. The results show the relevance of the different approaches used when dealing with innovation in the assessment of mergers.
    Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions, Innovation, Efficiency Defence
    JEL: C14 D21 L11 L25
    Date: 2007–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:use:tkiwps:0721&r=tid
  5. By: C. Mirjam van Praag (University of Amsterdam, Tinbergen Institute, Max Planck Institute of Economics Jena and IZA); Peter H. Versloot (University of Amsterdam and Tinbergen Institute)
    Abstract: This paper examines to what extent recent empirical evidence can collectively and systematically substantiate the claim that entrepreneurship has important economic value. Hence, a systematic review is provided that answers the question: What is the contribution of entrepreneurs to the economy in comparison to non-entrepreneurs? We study the relative contribution of entrepreneurs to the economy based on four measures that have most widely been studied empirically. Hence, we answer the question: What is the contribution of entrepreneurs to (i) employment generation and dynamics, (ii) innovation, and (iii) productivity and growth, relative to the contributions of the entrepreneurs’ counterparts, i.e. the ‘control group’? A fourth type of contribution studied is the role of entrepreneurship in increasing individuals’ utility levels. Based on 57 recent studies of high quality that contain 87 relevant separate analyses, we conclude that entrepreneurs have a very important - but specific - function in the economy. They engender relatively much employment creation, productivity growth and produce and commercialize high quality innovations. They are more satisfied than employees. More importantly, recent studies show that entrepreneurial firms produce important spillovers that affect regional employment growth rates of all companies in the region in the long run. However, the counterparts cannot be missed either as they account for a relatively high value of GDP, a less volatile and more secure labor market, higher paid jobs and a greater number of innovations and they have a more active role in the adoption of innovations.
    Keywords: entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, self-employment, productivity, economic development, growth, employment, innovation, patents, R&D, utility, remuneration, income
    JEL: D24 D31 E23 E24 J21 J28 J31 L26 M13
    Date: 2007–08
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp3014&r=tid

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