Relating the Knowledge Production Function to Total Factor Productivity: An Endogenous Growth Puzzle

The knowledge production function is central to research and development-based growth models. This paper empirically investigates the knowledge production function and intertemporal spillover effects using cointegration techniques. Timeseries evidence suggests there are two long-run cointegrating relationships. The first captures a long-run knowledge production function; the second captures a long-run positive relationship between total factor productivity (TFP) and the knowledge stock. The results indicate that strong intertemporal knowledge spillovers are present and that the long-run impact of the knowledge stock on TFP is small. This evidence is interpreted in light of existing theoretical and empirical evidence on endogenous growth. Copyright 2006, International Monetary Fund

Total factor productivity effects of interregional knowledge spillovers in manufacturing industries across Europe

The objective of this study is to identify knowledge spillovers that spread across regions in Europe and vary in magnitude for different industries. The study uses a panel of 203 NUTS-2 regions covering the 15 pre-2004 EU-member-states to estimate the impact over the period 1998-2003, and distinguish between five major industries. The study implements a fixed effects panel data regression model with spatial autocorrelation to estimate effects using patent applications as a measure of R&D output to capture the contribution of R&D (direct and spilled-over) to regional productivity at the industry level. The results suggest that interregional knowledge spillovers and their productivity effects are to a substantial degree geographically localised and this finding is consistent with the localisation hypothesis of knowledge spillovers. There is a substantial amount of heterogeneity across industries with evidence that two industries (electronics, and chemical industries) produce interregional knowledge spillovers that have positive and highly significant productivity effects. The study, moreover, confirms the importance of spatial autoregressive disturbance in the fixed effects model for measuring the TFP impact of interregional knowledge spillovers at the industry level.Total factor productivity, manufacturing industries, knowledge spillovers,patents, European regions, spatial econometrics

Total technology practice : preliminary study for application in New Zealand schools : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Technology, at Massey University

The purpose of this research was to identify the important generic elements of total technology practice and to develop a preliminary list of the important techniques, knowledge and actions used by technologists. The research was based on the hypothesis that in technology education in New Zealand schools, the important elements of technology practice could be represented in the form of a model that could be used to organise and communicate the elements and knowledge involved in total technology practice. The research was undertaken with technologists working at Massey University and teachers involved in teaching technology. A product development research methodology was used to test ideas and develop a model of technology practice for use in New Zealand schools. The first phase of the research used the experience and knowledge of product development technologists to identify the important elements of technology practice and develop preliminary lists of techniques and knowledge involved in each element. A group of specialist technologists were used to verify these elements and identify detailed content. This research showed that total technology practice can be structured using seven elements that together provide a simplified description of total technology practice. The elements of practice associated with the human context and goal of technology practice were identified as society, the work environment, and purposeful action. The elements technologists bring to the context were organisation, information, resource use, and an extensive knowledge of techniques and the skill, ingenuity and experience to apply and adapt techniques to specific contexts and problems. Individual technologists were interviewed to identify the important practices and knowledge within their area of expertise. Technological knowledge was structured into a framework that reflected the way technologists broke complex systems into subsystems to solve problems and develop solutions. The detailed model developed with the technologists was evaluated by groups of teachers using focus group techniques and a small survey. The study indicated teachers perceived the model as a useful tool for communicating knowledge and understanding of technology practice and for structuring teaching units in technology education. This preliminary study indicated technology practice can be described in terms of seven elements and communicated in the form of a model. Technologists organise their knowledge into structures that facilitate application in practice. This structure and much of its knowledge can be made explicit and used to help students understand technological products and develop capability in their technology practice. This study has identified a structure for technology practice and technological knowledge that is common to all seven technological areas and nine contexts identified in the New Zealand technology curriculum

An R&D-Based Model of Multi-Sector Growth

We develop a multi-sector general equilibrium model in which productivity growth is driven by the production of sector-specific knowledge. In the model, we find that long run differences in total factor productivity growth across sectors are independent of the parameters of the knowledge production function except for one, which we term the fertility of knowledge. Differences in R&D intensity are also independent of most other parameters. The fertility of knowledge in the capital sector is central to the growth properties of the model economy.Endogenous technical change, multisector growth, fertility of knowledge, total factor productivity, R&D intensity, investment-specific technical change

Knowledge Management and TQM: An Integrated Approach to Management

Knowledge management (KM) is the name given to the set of systematic and disciplined actions that an organisation can take to obtain the greatest value from the knowledge available to it. Knowledge management has received increasing attention from 1990. For a few years, it was the next big thing after business process reengineering and total quality management. This paper describes and compares concepts of KM and TQM. At the end, it concludes that KM and TQM are complementary and to be successful, it is necessary to take an integrated approach to management

Exploratory study to explore the role of ICT in the process of knowledge management in an Indian business environment

In the 21st century and the emergence of a digital economy, knowledge and the knowledge base economy are rapidly growing. To effectively be able to understand the processes involved in the creating, managing and sharing of knowledge management in the business environment is critical to the success of an organization. This study builds on the previous research of the authors on the enablers of knowledge management by identifying the relationship between the enablers of knowledge management and the role played by information communication technologies (ICT) and ICT infrastructure in a business setting. This paper provides the findings of a survey collected from the four major Indian cities (Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Villupuram) regarding their views and opinions about the enablers of knowledge management in business setting. A total of 80 organizations participated in the study with 100 participants in each city. The results show that ICT and ICT infrastructure can play a critical role in the creating, managing and sharing of knowledge in an Indian business environment

Agglomeration economies, globalization and productivity. Firm level evidence for Slovenia.

This paper analyzes the impact of agglomeration economies on firm level performance measured by total factor productivity for Slovenia. To estimate total factor productivity, we use a control function approach to capture endogenous input choices and self selection. In contrast to most of the literature, we introduce agglomeration economies that are linked to globalization. In particular, we distinguish between knowledge spillovers related to domestic and foreign sources of agglomeration effects and analyze the impact of regional export market exposure, which we call international market access. We find positive effects of regional knowledge spillovers and international market access on firm level total factor productivity. These effects are stronger for micro and small firms and for firms operating in service sectors. We also show that knowledge spillovers are amplified when there are more foreign multinationals in a region.

Counting-on, trading and partitioning: effects of training and prior knowledge on performance on Base-10 tasks

Factors affecting performance on Base-10 tasks were investigated in a series of four studies with a total of 453 children aged five to seven years. Training in counting-on was found to enhance child performance on Base-10 tasks (Studies 2, 3, and 4), while prior knowledge of counting-on (Study 1), trading (Studies 1 and 3) and partitioning (Studies 1 and 4) were associated with enhanced Base-10 performance. It emerged that procedural knowledge of counting-on, trading and partitioning can lead to improvements in procedural knowledge of the Base-10 system. The findings lend support to the model of iterative development of conceptual and procedural knowledge advanced by Rittle-Johnson, Siegler and Alibali (2001)