Influence of mobile telephony on entrepreneurship in BRICs and beyond: the mediator role of education

Besides large population and rapid growth (Goldman Sachs 2003) the BRICs - Brazil, Russia, India, China and recently South Africa - have also attracted interest in recent years due to their increased technological diffusion and its impact on domestic entrepreneurship (Saxenian 2002, 2005). The limited studies conducted propose that returning Chinese and Indian migrant entrepreneurs from United States (US) with their ‘foreign’ acquired human capital (defined as education) are accelerating the process of technological diffusion and innovation in their home countries especially in information and communications technology (ICT) industries (Saxenian 2002, 2005). Yet, to date, previous studies have mainly focused on link between foreign education and innovation mostly in BRICs related countries. Thus, the extent to which domestic education level mediates the impact of technology on ‘new business formation rates’ across the developing world remains relatively opaque. Considering that mobile phone is one of the key ICT sectors in developing countries, this study examines whether and to what extent ‘domestic’ education level mediates the relationship between mobile phone diffusion and new business formation rates across the developing world - including BRICs and Non-BRICs Countries. Drawing on Knowledge Spillover Theory of entrepreneurship, the paper posits that due to the recent rise in education in the developing world, mobile phone diffusion will be positively associated with new business formation rates, and education level will facilitate (mediate) the relationship. Utilising Baron and Kenney’s mediation test and Sobel’s Test on country-level panel data on 66 developing countries, the results clearly demonstrate strong positive effects of education level as a mediator between mobile phone diffusion and new business formation rates not just in Developing Countries (Including BRICs) but also in Non-BRICs Developing Countries with the exception of least developed countries (LDCs). In LDCs, although the role of education level was not found to be significant, mobile phone diffusion was nevertheless found to be strongly associated with new business formation rates thereby suggesting that entrepreneurs in LDCs may simply be using mobile phone to start non-knowledge intensive businesses. Implications are drawn for policy

Characterization of Some Portland Limestone Cements in Nigeria Using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

In Nigeria, the most widely used cement strength class are 32.5 and 42.5 Portland limestone cement. However, due to lack of awareness, scientists and researchers are reporting the use of PLC as Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). The study presents the characterization of PLC using absorption spectroscopy as well as oxide composition. Ratio between 7 - and 28 - day strengths of some selected PLCs are presented. It is seen that the Brands investigated conforms to the specifications of Portland composite cements in compliance with ASTM C150 and NIS 444-1. Absorption spectrum for the two brands were similar to that of OPC and exhibited similar characteristics. Concrete strength was within the designed concrete specification, and the ration between the two curing ages is 0.6 for both brands

What specific modes of internationalization influence SME innovation in Sub-Saharan least developed countries (LDCs)?

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) located in the least developed countries (LDCs), operate in distinctively hostile institutional environments compared to those in developed economies. Better understanding of the determinants of SME innovation in such environments is important for the development of private sector in LDCs, because innovative SMEs are crucial for sustainable economic growth. Yet, determinants of SME innovation in LDCs have hardly been studied. Considering the potential relevance of internationalization for SME innovation in LDCs, as means of overcoming domestic environmental constraints, this paper investigates the influence of foreign technology licensing, exports and imports on SME innovation in LDCs. The study employs data from 1058 manufacturing SMEs from Sub-Saharan LDCs - Djibouti, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The findings suggest that foreign technology licensing is found to be positively and statistically associated with SME product and process innovations in Sub-Saharan LDCs. Findings are compared with those from developed economies in order to identify distinctive features. The implication is that SMEs in Sub-Saharan LDCs need to be supported by different policies compared to developed economies. The results also show that R&D, firm size, sectoral characteristics and access to finance are important determinants of SME innovation

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

The growth of small firms in non-cluster regions: what knowledge factors matter?

Although it has been suggested that knowledge spillovers have significant consequences for small firm performance especially in Clusters, past empirical findings have largely ignored the question of whether knowledge spillovers also matter for small firms in Non-Clustered regions. Extending previous research, this paper analysis the impact of different types of knowledge spillover mechanisms on small firm performance in Non-Clustered regions. The paper argues that due to the greater disadvantage of Non-Clustered small firms in accessing local knowledge resources from research intensive universities and dearth of geographically proximate firms, growth performance of Non-Clustered firms will be specifically significantly influenced by ‘imitation of non-local firms for product development’. Based on a survey of Non-Clustered and Clustered (as control group) technology-based small firms in the East of England, and controlling for several factors, the findings suggest that: imitation spillovers have a significant positive impact on employment growth of small firms in Non-Clustered regions. The suggests that Non-Cluster small firm’s boosts their ability to generate for new products that influence their growth through the imitation of non-local competitors. Key policy implication is that: while policies for promoting small firm growth performance through university research appear to be appropriate for Clustered regions, Non-Clustered regions may need to adopt somewhat different policies that allow small firms to imitate technologies of others though appropriate legal means

Information technology in bottom of the pyramid (BOP) markets: impact on entrepreneurship rates in developing countries

Although it has been speculated for some time that technology market development at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) will create millions of new entrepreneurs in developing countries to date, there has been no macro-level cross-country study investigating the extent to which such market development at the BOP creates opportunities for entrepreneurship in developing countries. By bottom of the pyramid (BOP), reference is being made to the over 4 billion global poor with annual income of less than $3,000 largely residing in developing countries (World Resources Institute, 2007). Utilizing the BOP theory and the market spillover theory (Jaffe, 1996, 2005), this study sets forth and examines an original theoretical framework for the role of technology market development at the BOP in information and communications technology (ICT) sector in influencing entrepreneurship (new business formation rates) in developing countries; and the mediating role of ICT industry specialization in enhancing such spillovers. The study draws on cross-country data on BOP market for ICT from World Resources Institute and new business formation rates from World Bank. Controlling for several other factors that may affect new business formation in developing countries, the findings suggest a strong positive relationship between ICT technology market development at the BOP and new business formation rates in developing countries. Implications are drawn for theory and policy

Agglomeration of High-Tech Firms and New Product Innovations

Knowledge is the driving force of innovative small firms in high-tech industries. Knowledge is however context dependent, and varies across regions. This research explores differences and similarities in external knowledge factors accounting for new product innovations between small firms in high and low agglomeration regions. A framework is built in which small firms develop new products in two distinct environments: agglomeration i.e. ‘high agglomeration’ and regions lacking agglomeration i.e. ‘low agglomeration’ region. The framework considers external influences on new product innovations to be separated out into knowledge spillovers, referred to as non-market externalities and pecuniary knowledge externalities i.e. market based externalities. Based on interviews and surveys of firms in the Cambridge and Essex in the UK, it was found that: sources of product innovations by small firms in high and low agglomeration differ, in that small firms in low agglomeration are more influenced by imitation; but similarities exist in that firms in both regions are more influenced by knowledge spillovers over pecuniary knowledge, and international knowledge ove

Entrepreneurship and bottom of the pyramid (BOP) markets: the mediating role of human capital in a developing country

Although it has been speculated for some time that rural-urban migration is transforming cities in developing countries into large local markets that should be targeted by innovative entrepreneurial firms, to date, little is known about the factors that may enhance the “venturesomeness” of the urban poor i.e. capacity of the urban poor to recognize the value of and use new innovations and therefore be a viable market for entrepreneurial firms. Utilizing the institutional theory, bottom of the pyramid (BOP) theory and venturesome economy theory, this study sets forth and tests an original theoretical framework for the mediating role of regional human capital in enhancing the capacity of the urban poor to embrace innovations and therefore serve as attractive market for entrepreneurial firms in developing country. Based on multiple regression analysis at the regional level in Nigeria, the paper rigorously tested the influence of regional human capital in influencing urban and rural poor venturesomeness and attractiveness to entrepreneurial firms. We found that although there is a positive relationship between venturesomeness of both urban and rural poor and the geographic location of entrepreneurial firms in developing country, this relationship is mediated by regional human capital. Further, significant positive relationships were also found between venturesomeness of rural poor and the location of entrepreneurial firms, suggesting that rural poor are also an important market for entrepreneurial firms. Implications are drawn for theory, practice and policy