When Micro Shapes the Meso: Learning Networks in a Chilean Wine Cluster

Most analyses of the relationship between spatial clustering and the technological learning of firms have emphasised the influence of the former on the latter, and have focused on intra-cluster learning as the driver of innovative performance. This paper reverses those perspectives. It examines the influence of individual firms' absorptive capacities on both the functioning of the intra-cluster knowledge system and its interconnection with extra-cluster knowledge. It applies social network analysis to identify different cognitive roles played by cluster firms and the overall structure of the knowledge system of a wine cluster in Chile. The results show that knowledge is not diffused evenly 'in the air', but flows within a core group of firms characterised by advanced absorptive capacities. Firms' different cognitive roles include some - as in the case of technological gatekeepers - that contribute actively to the acquisition, creation and diffusion of knowledge. Others remain cognitively isolated from the cluster, though in some cases strongly linked to extra-cluster knowledge. Possible implications for policy are noted.clusters, absorptive capacity, knowledge communities, technological gatekeepers

Cross-National Comparison of Internal Migration

Internal migration is the most significant process driving changes in the pattern of human settlement across much of the world, yet remarkably few attempts have been made to compare internal migration between countries. Differences in data collection, in geography and in measurement intervals seriously hinder rigorous cross-national comparisons. We supplement data from the University of Minnesota IPUMS collection to make comparisons between 28 countries using both five year and lifetime measures of migration, and focusing particularly on migration intensity and spatial impacts. We demonstrate that Courgeau's k (Courgeau 1973) provides a powerful mechanism to transcend differences in statistical geography. Our results reveal widespread differences in the intensity of migration, and in the ages at which it occurs, with Asia generally displaying low mobility and sharp, early peaks, whereas Latin America and the Developed Countries show higher mobility and flatter age profiles usually peaking at older ages. High mobility is commonly offset by corresponding counter-flows but redistribution through internal migration is substantial in some countries, especially when computed as a lifetime measure. Time series comparisons show five year migration intensities falling in most countries (China being a notable exception), although lifetime data show more widespread rises due to age structure effects. Globally, we estimate that 740 million people, one in eight, were living within their home country but outside their region of birth, substantially above the commonly cited figure of 200 million international migrants.Internal migration, comparative analysis, migration intensity, redistribution, age, geography, lifetime, IPUMS

Cross-National Comparisons of Internal Migration

Internal migration is the most significant process driving changes in the pattern of human settlement across much of the world, yet remarkably few attempts have been made to compare internal migration between countries. Differences in data collection, in geography and in measurement intervals seriously hinder rigorous cross-national comparisons. We supplement data from the University of Minnesota IPUMS collection to make comparisons between 28 countries using both five year and lifetime measures of migration, and focusing particularly on migration intensity and spatial impacts. We demonstrate that Courgeau's k (Courgeau 1973) provides a powerful mechanism to transcend differences in statistical geography. Our results reveal widespread differences in the intensity of migration, and in the ages at which it occurs, with Asia generally displaying low mobility and sharp, early peaks, whereas Latin America and the Developed Countries show higher mobility and flatter age profiles usually peaking at older ages. High mobility is commonly offset by corresponding counter-flows but redistribution through internal migration is substantial in some countries, especially when computed as a lifetime measure. Time series comparisons show five year migration intensities falling in most countries (China being a notable exception), although lifetime data show more widespread rises due to age structure effects. Globally, we estimate that 740 million people, one in eight, were living within their home country but outside their region of birth, substantially above the commonly cited figure of 200 million international migrants.Internal migration, comparative analysis, migration intensity, redistribution, age, geography, lifetime, IPUMS

Australia's uncertain demographic future

The techniques of probabilistic population forecasting are increasingly being recognised as a profitable means of overcoming many of the limitations of conventional deterministic variant population forecasts. This paper applies these techniques to present the first comprehensive set of probabilistic population forecasts for Australia. We stress the disadvantages of directly inputting net migration into the cohort component model in probabilistic forecasting, and propose a gross migration flows model which distinguishes between permanent and non-permanent immigration and emigration. Our forecasts suggest that there is a two thirds probability of Australia’s population being between 23.0 and 25.8 million by 2026 and between 24.4 and 31.8 million by 2051. Comparisons with the latest official population projections of the Australian Bureau of Statistics are made.Australia, migration, migration forecasts, population forecasting, probabilistic, uncertainty

Improved elastomer for use with oxygen difluoride

Method improves resistance of CIS-1,4-poly(butadiene) elastomers to attack by oxygen difluoride at low temperatures by replacing silica reinforcement with less reactive substances. Improved elastomeric compound is utilized in bladders, diaphragms, valves, O-rings and seals

Two-loop current-current operator contribution to the non-leptonic QCD penguin amplitude

The computation of direct CP asymmetries in charmless B decays at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in QCD is of interest to ascertain the short-distance contribution. Here we compute the two-loop penguin contractions of the current-current operators Q_{1,2} and provide a first estimate of NNLO CP asymmetries in penguin-dominated b -> s transitions.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Comparing Population Mobility in Australia and New Zealand

Despite its pre-eminent role as an agent of spatial change, little attention has been given to the way population mobility-varies between countries. Rigorous cross-national comparisons offer potentially valuable analytical insights, but require-close attention to differences in data, measurement procedures and the computation of movement indicators. This paper-compares internal migration in Australia and New Zealand using a framework devised in recent Anglo-Australian-research. It identifies subtle but important differences in data collection and coding, and shows that New Zealanders-display consistently higher migration intensities, possibly due to compositional effects. Despite this, and close parallels in-the causes and patterns of redistribution within the two countries, internal migration is exerting a relatively large aggregate-impact on the distribution of human settlement in Australia. Opportunities for further research are discussed

Comparing Internal Migration between Countries: Measures, Data Sources and Results

This paper derives from a program of research which aims to develop a robust framework for cross-national comparisons of internal migration. Stage one examined the obstacles to such comparisons and made proposals for a battery of 15 migration indicators covering four broad dimensions of population mobility which were then tested using British and Australian data. Wider implementation requires assembly of databases for countries around the world. Stage two takes the first steps towards this goal by establishing a worldwide inventory of contemporary practice with respect to collection of internal migration data, based on published sources and a comprehensive survey of national statistical agencies. Information collected includes the source and type of data, migration intervals and zonal system. This paper summarises the conclusions from Stage 1, reports results from the Stage 2 inventory and sets out proposals for a collaborative network to implement the cross-national indicators worldwide

Innovation Capabilities and Directions of Development

The central challenge in the original Sussex Manifesto centred on massively increasing the developing countries’ scientific and technological capabilities for creating new knowledge and shaping the technologies they used. It also stressed the need for radical change in the national and international contexts within which those capabilities would be accumulated and used. This paper reviews those ideas in their intellectual context of the late-1960s and early-1970s. With reference to industrial development broadly defined, it then outlines how our understanding about the accumulation of such innovation capabilities has changed since the 1960s, highlighting their role in shaping the direction of innovation and not just its rate. It notes, however, that other influential perspectives attach little importance to the role of industrial innovation capabilities in developing countries. On the one hand, they are seen as irrelevant when technologies from advanced economies can be acquired and absorbed. On the other, their most important components are often omitted from national S&T strategies that strengthen only centralised, public R&D capabilities. The paper therefore emphasises the importance of policies that seek to develop two kinds of complementarity: between widely dispersed local innovation capabilities and (a) technology imports, and (b) centralised R&D activities.ESR

The Exploitation of Indigenous Knowledge or the Indigenous Exploitation of Knowledge: Whose Use of What for What?

SUMMARY This article argues that concern with technical knowledge which is indigenous to disadvantaged rural groups must go beyond an interest in extracting fragments of it to make marginal improvements to existing types of R and D project. The main issue must be the extent to which such groups are involved in, and have influence upon, the technical change which affects their lives. The range of potential uses for indigenous technical knowledge is therefore far wider than those involved in R and D, and the central concern must be with augmenting the whole spectrum of indigenous capabilities to create, transform and use technical knowledge. This implies there must be a shift from the dominant approach to rural technical change which merely seeks to introduce into rural society techniques conceived and developed outside it. Rather, one must seek the technological development of rural society which enables it more effectively to pursue and control its own path of technical change. RESUME L'exploitation des connaissances indigènes et l'exploitation indigène des connaissances: qui utilise quoi, et dans quel but? L'auteur fait observer que le souci de tenir compte des connaissances techniques indigènes aux groupes ruraux désavantagés doit dépasser le désir d'en extraire des fragments pour apporter des améliorations marginales aux types existants de projets de R et D. La question centrale est de savoir dans quelle mesure ces groupes sont amenés à participer, dans quelle mesure ils peuvent influencer les changements techniques qui affectent leur vie. Les utilisations potentielles des connaissances techniques indigènes débordent de beaucoup le secteur R et D, et le premier souci doit être d'accroître les diverses aptitudes indigènes à créer, à transformer et à utiliser les connaissances techniques. Il faut donc abandonner la démarche dominante, qui vise uniquement à introduire dans la société rurale des techniques conçues et développées à l'extérieur, en faveur d'un développement technologique qui lui permette de suivre et de contrôler plus efficacement sa propre voie en matière d'évolution technique. RESUMEN La explotación del conocimiento indígena y la explotación indígena del conocimiento: ¿quien utiliza qué para qué? En este artículo se afirma que la preocupación con el conocimiento técnico de carácter indígena en los grupos rurales desaventajados debe ir más allá del interés en extraer fragmentos del mismo para hacer mejoras marginales en los tipos existentes de proyectos de investigación y desarrollo. El problema principal debe ser la amplitud en que intervienen dichos grupos y tienen influencia sobre los cambios técnicos que influyan en sus vidas. El alcance de las posibles aplicaciones del conocimiento técnico indígena es, por lo tanto, mucho más amplio que las que intervienen en la investigación y el desarrollo, y la preocupación central debe consistir en aumentar el espectro completo de las habilidades indígenas para crear, transformar y utilizar el conocimiento técnico. Esto supone que debe producirse un cambio de la actitud predominante a la de cambio técnico rural que sólo trata de introducir en la sociedad rural técnicas concebidas y desarrolladas fuera de ella. Se debe pretender más bien el desarrollo tecnológico de la sociedad rural que le permita proseguir y dirigir más eficazmente su propia orientación en el cambio técnico