49,029 research outputs found

    Spatial patterns of knowledge-intensive business services in cities of various sizes, morphologies and economies

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    We compare intra-urban localization patterns of advertising and IT companies in three large Czech cities. The main aim of our analysis is an empirically-based contribution to the question to what extent do knowledge bases affect the spatial distribution of various knowledge-intensive business industries. The central research question is: To what extent is the localization of these two industries influenced by different modes of innovation/knowledge bases (symbolic vs. synthetic) and to what extent by contextual factors, such as urban size, morphology, position in the urban hierarchy and economic profile of the given city. We found that the urban contexts shape the localization patterns of advertising and IT companies more than differences in knowledge bases-both industries cluster primarily in the inner cities and urban cores. Formation of more suburban IT "scientific neighborhoods" is limited.Web of Science125art. no. 184

    Global Risks 2015, 10th Edition.

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    The 2015 edition of the Global Risks report completes a decade of highlighting the most significant long-term risks worldwide, drawing on the perspectives of experts and global decision-makers. Over that time, analysis has moved from risk identification to thinking through risk interconnections and the potentially cascading effects that result. Taking this effort one step further, this year's report underscores potential causes as well as solutions to global risks. Not only do we set out a view on 28 global risks in the report's traditional categories (economic, environmental, societal, geopolitical and technological) but also we consider the drivers of those risks in the form of 13 trends. In addition, we have selected initiatives for addressing significant challenges, which we hope will inspire collaboration among business, government and civil society communitie

    The relationship between the entrepreneurship and the local environment : evidence from Poland

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    Purpose: The main goal of the research is to investigate the importance of geographical proximity between regions as an entrepreneurship development factor compared to other determinants of entrepreneurship. Design/Methodology/Approach: Three neighbouring regions in south-eastern Poland demonstrating a different level of economic development were selected for the study. The study was carried out at the local level using the division of the three regions into 61 local administrative units. The taxonomic measure of development based on the Weber median and regression analysis (2SLS estimators) were employed. The analysis cover the 2008-2017 period. Findings: The research revealed the weak impact of inter-regional proximity on the entrepreneurship development in less developed regions. The difference in motives for starting a business (opportunity versus necessity entrepreneurship) was indicated as a probable cause for the weak impact of inter-regional geographical proximity on entrepreneurship development in less developed regions. Practical Implications: The study results can be utilised in subsequent examinations of inter regional convergence across Europe. Originality/Value: The value of the paper is the a "territorial" approach to entrepreneurship process which have not been sufficiently examined so far. The research seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the entrepreneurship process in countries which have relatively recently adopted market rules, eg. Poland.peer-reviewe

    Synthetic Controls: A New Approach to Evaluating Interventions

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    Synthetic control methods are a novel approach to comparative case study research using observational data. Though developed within political science, the methods can potentially be applied to a wide range of evaluation problems in economics, public health, social policy and other disciplines. In the traditional approach, an area in which a new or redesigned service is being implemented is compared with another ‘control’ area (in which there is no change) and statistical adjustment used to account for any differences between areas that might bias the comparison. In the new approach, a synthetic control is derived using data on past trends in all potentially comparable areas, providing a more robust basis for identifying the impact of the service change. Synthetic control methods may be a valuable addition to the range of techniques available for non-randomised evaluations of social, economic and public health interventions. To date there have been few applications in a UK context, and none in Scotland. Published evidence suggests considerable potential to apply synthetic controls to public service innovations at NHS Board, local authority or Community Planning Partnership level, and may widen the range of policy and practice changes that can usefully be evaluated

    State Aid, Industrial Restructuring and Privatization in the New German LĂ€nder: Competition Policy with Case Studies of the Shipbuilding and Synthetic Fibres Industries

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    The industrial restructuring in the new LĂ€nder of Germany consisted of closing down production capacities created under the socialist regime. In turn, public and private investments were channeled into those departments of the former "factories of the people" (VEBs) where new production capacities would be competitive on international markets. The Treuhandanstalt was the main agent of this process, providing both active management advice and enormous financial aids. As a result, this form of industrial policy in East Germany was in permanent conflict with the EC-competition rules, in particular articles 92 and 93 of the EEC-Treaty, which rules out state aid that distorts competition. This paper analyzes the effects of state aids in East Germany on European competition. We first discuss the specificity of post-socialist industrial restructuring in East Germany, which consisted of the "enterprization" of socialist combines into capitalist enterprises. Second, we review the economic rationale for state aids in the East German context by distinguishing between static and dynamic arguments. Third, we apply these theoretical arguments for state aid to two concrete case studies: shipbuilding and synthetic fibres. We conclude from a static point of view that state aids can not be justified in both cases: large capacities were added to already existing overcapacities in Europe. Considering dynamic arguments, we assess the likelihood that the industrial restructuring may lead to the creation of new East German enterprises that are at the leading edge of technology and with a high productivity. While the East German cases of state aid were a novelty for European competition policy, there might be important implications for other postsocialist countries (e.g. Poland, Hungary, Czech and Slovak Republic) once they join the EU. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG - (Staatliche Beihilfen, Industriereform und Privatisierung in den neuen BundeslĂ€ndern -Untersuchung der Wettbewerbspolitik und Fallstudien des ostdeutschen Schiffbaus und der Synthesefaserindustrie) Der industrielle Umstrukturierungsprozeß in den neuen BundeslĂ€ndern bestand darin, alte sozialistische ProduktionskapazitĂ€ten abzubauen und Investitionen in diejenigen Betriebsteile frĂŒherer VEBs zu lenken, in denen wettbewerbsfĂ€hige marktwirtschaftliche ProduktionskapazitĂ€ten aufgebaut werden konnten. Von staatlicher Seite kam der Treuhandanstalt die Aufgabe zu, neben aktivem Management auch umfangreiche finanzielle Mittel fĂŒr die Umstrukturierung zur VerfĂŒgung zu stellen. Damit stand die Industriepolitik in den neuen BundeslĂ€ndern in stĂ€ndigem Konflikt mit dem wettbewerblichen Regelwerk der EuropĂ€ischen Gemeinschaft, vor allem mit Artikeln 92 und 93 EWG-Vertrag, die staatliche Beihilfen generell untersagen. In diesem Beitrag untersuchen wir die wettbewerbspolitischen Auswirkungen der Industriereformen in den neuen BundeslĂ€ndern. Eingangs wird die post-sozialistische Besonderheit dieses Prozesses erlĂ€utert, die in der "Unternehmisierung" sozialistischer VEBs in marktwirtschaftliche Unternehmen bestand. Im Anschluß daran werden statische und dynamische Kriterien zur Bewertung staatlicher Beihilfen entwickelt. Diese werden anhand von zwei Fallstudien getestet (Schiffbau und Synthesefasern). In beiden FĂ€llen erscheinen die staatlichen Beihilfen aus statischer Sicht problematisch, da mit hohem finanziellem Aufwand neue KapazitĂ€ten geschaffen wurden, die das Problem der europĂ€ischen ÜberkapazitĂ€ten noch verschĂ€rften. Bei dynamischer Sichtweise fĂ€llt das Ergebnis positiver aus, da die ostdeutschen Unternehmen bei erfolgreich abgeschlossener Umstrukturierung zu den europaweit produktivsten gehören könnten. Die Erfahrung in den neuen BundeslĂ€ndern deutet auch darauf hin, daß bei einer EU-Erweiterung um mittel- und osteuropĂ€ische LĂ€nder erhebliche wettbewerbspolitische Probleme zu erwarten sind.Intermediation; Market Microstructure; Matching; Uncertainty; Innovation; Patent Licensing

    Trade, growth and geography: A synthetic

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    Economic integration affects economic development through two main channels: growth and localization of the economic activities. The theories of endogenous growth and economic geography enable us to understand these mechanisms. We study in this paper their similarities and specificities before suggesting their useful combination within a single model. Indeed, both theories are based on the same Spence-Dixit-Stiglitz monopolistic competition framework. However, they suggest two different approaches to deal with the impact of economic integration. We consider that a third path, by proposing a synthetic approach, better answers the issues raised in terms of economic convergence and divergence by these two sets of models
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