Shared Resources in Industrial Districts: Information, know-how and institutions in the Spanish tile industry

The aim of this paper is to measure the effect of shared resources on individual firm performance. Using the Industrial District as a definition of the interorganizational context, we propose a model that includes a set of factors that are associated with the endowment of external resources, that is, collective information and know-how, and involvement in local institutions. In order to illustrate the theoretical argumentation, we develop an empirical study using a one hundred-firm sample from the Spanish Ceramic Tile industry in order to search for a statistical association between resource variables and performance of the firms. Finally, findings of the paper suggest that in order to increase performance firms must develop a distinct capacity so as to be able to shape and exploit shared or collective resource

Geriatric medicine bridges: Scotland – Costa Rica

This paper reviews the specialised geriatrics healthcare services of Costa Rica, with particular emphasis on the achievements made in the field of geriatrics following the author’s specialist tertiary education and training period at the Professorial Unit at the City Hospital, Edinburgh, 33 years earlier. The paper charts the development and consolidation of an educational programme of geriatrics in Costa Rica against a background of the changing demographic in this Central American nation and the consequent and compelling need for universal coverage of healthcare services targeted to meet the needs of the burgeoning population of older adults

Direct and Interactive Effects of Brokerage Roles on Innovation in Clustered Firms

Social network analysis has generated a great number of research findings in the organizational and management literature, in which the so-called territorial clusters have often been represented through the network metaphor. However, while scholars primarily examine the network structure and the internal heterogeneity, we have specifically analyzed the diverse types or roles of informational brokers which firms can perform. We also posit that innovation generated by these firms is moderated by their own capabilities and, more particularly, we analyze how innovation is affected by brokerage roles and the moderating effect of R&D in the Spanish ceramic tile cluster. Our results show that different brokerage roles played by clustered firms have different implications in terms of innovation. Another relevant and related result refers to the interactive effect of brokerage roles and absorptive capacity, which becomes more or less significant depending on the role being played in each case.Financial support provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project number ECO2015-67122-R) and Universitat Jaume I (Project Number P1·1B2013-05) is gratefully acknowledged

El efecto de las redes organizativas sobre los festivales en pequeñas ciudades

Los festivales son un tipo de evento que ofrece verdaderas oportunidades para la activación urbana en ciudades de pequeño o mediano tamaño. Sin embargo, estas ciudades explotan de manera muy diversa este tipo de oportunidades. Las redes involucradas en estos eventos culturales determinan en cierta medida sus beneficios potenciales y también sus restricciones. Hemos analizado tres festivales que se llevan a cabo en destinos turísticos españoles de pequeño tamaño. Nuestros resultados confirman la existencia de diferentes mecanismos de gobernabilidad de las redes involucradas en los festivales. Las implicaciones de este trabajo pueden ser útiles, tanto para el diseño de políticas como para la organización individual de los eventos.Events such as festivals offer considerable opportunities for urban activation in medium or small cities. However, cities significantly vary in the degree they exploit these opportunities. This paper analyzes this relevant question adopting a network perspective. We argue that networks of people and organizations involved in a cultural event determine to some extent its potential benefits and restraints. We have illustrated our argumentation though three festivals held in minor urban touristic destinations in Spain. Findings confirm the existence of different modes of network governance in festivals. Implications may be useful for both policy makers and individual organizations

THE ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS. A SOCIAL NETWORKS ANALYSIS

In recent times, the international competitive panorama has undergone intense rapid change, due especially to the presence of new competitors, new technology and new markets. These changes and their repercussions have had a significant impact on many industrial districts, which has left many of these agglomerations in critical condition. When facing these new circumstances, the function of local institutions takes on a much greater importance in how these districts adapt to the new competitive context, connecting companies with external networks which give access to new sources of information and knowledge. Furthermore, the role of local institutions will always be conditioned by the context in which they are found. For instance, there are significant differences between traditional or low-tech districts and high-tech districts which offer technologically more advanced products and services. Thus, while for the second category there is a great deal of theoretical and academic evidence that supports the idea that institutions act as leader actors in processes of innovation and improvement, in districts which operate in traditional sectors there is a shortage of research that analyzes the role played by institutions in these low-tech districts. To fill this gap in the literature, we aim with this work to analyze the links established by the companies of two industrial districts, with different levels of innovation activity, with local institutions. We especially analyze the intermediary and pollinating function that these institutions can have within these districts. We have applied Social Network Analysis techniques, analyzing the structure and properties of networks in the district as well as the role played by institutions. Our aim is to contribute to the debate by establishing a way to measure the flows of information and knowledge between companies and local institutions in two different districts through a social network analysis. The results obtained are of particular interest and are in contrast with the more traditional view that assumes a positive association between the companies' opportunities for learning and the cohesion of the network

On the drivers of successful crowdfunding: The case of the platform Verkami

This article analyzes the determinants of successful crowdfunding initiatives using a sample of 5,251 projects from the reward-based Spanish platform Verkami. In contrast to most of the literature that has measured success with a dichotomous variable, we approach success with a continuous one, namely the ratio of achievement, which is measured as the obtained resources over the total amount requested by the promoter. We consider a set of potential determinants of success, which are theoretically well-grounded and cover a variety of spheres related to project features. Results suggest that factors related to the signaling theories such as partnership, having previous experience and interaction with backers are positively associated with the achievement ratio, whereas no significant impact is found for the number of rewards. In addition, we find uneven effects for low and high ratios of achievement, identifying the key determinants in different project stages

Different Paths to Achieve High Technological Innovation in Clustered Firms: An Analysis of the Spanish Ceramic Tile Industry

This paper uncovers the different factors behind the high technological innovation performance of clustered firms. Moreover, we aim to investigate the necessary and sufficient conditions of factors to achieve innovative outcomes of clustered firms. This is done by analyzing the Spanish ceramic tile cluster and using a configurational comparative method, namely, fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results reveal the presence of equifinality, as there are diverse paths or combinations of factors that lead clustered firms to higher technological innovation performance. Additionally, early adoption of new technologies and a high absorptive capacity are included in most of the successful combinations of factors

Formation and dissolution of inter-firm linkages in lengthy and stable networks in clusters

[EN] Firms aspire to take advantage of technical and business networks through inter-organizational interactions to improve performance. Consequently, researchers are increasingly focusing on the dynamics and implications of network formation at both local and global levels. The recent research trend does not consider a monotonic effect and simplistic approach to proximity because proximity is a complex multidimensional concept. Using data from a foodstuffs cluster in the Valencian region (Spain) and advanced econometric methods such as Exponential Random Graph Models, this study aims to clarify the detrimental effects and complementarities that may arise among proximity dimensions. After controlling for network endogenous forces and firm characteristics, findings reveal the negative effect of cognitive and institutional proximity dimensions on the creation of linkages in advanced stages of the cluster life cycle. Furthermore, social proximity and geographical proximity favor the formation of inter-firm relationships and reinforce the organizational dimension.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Research Project Number ECO2012-32663 and Research Project Number ECO2010-2055).Molina Morales, FX.; Belso Martínez, JA.; Mas Verdú, F.; Martínez Cháfer, L. (2015). Formation and dissolution of inter-firm linkages in lengthy and stable networks in clusters. Journal of Business Research. 68(7):1557-1562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.01.051S1557156268

What to expect when you're expecting. Causes and consequences of incentive policies for organic agribusiness in Comunitat Valenciana

Ponencia presentada en : XLVI Reunión de Estudios Regionales. Ciudades llenas, territorios vacíos. International Conference on Regional Science.Madrid, 24 al 26 de noviembre de 2021this paper aims to analyse the sustainable AFS in the Comunitat Valenciana, adopting the existing regulation on organic production. It is relevant to point out that, the existing regulations in the sector are mainly based on environmental regulations, although it is true that they have been created in such a way that respect for these rules leads to compliance with the other aspects of sustainability, or at least encourages them. In any case, the sustainability dealt with in this research will be understood following the United Nations sustainability definition. To achieve our objective, we intend to analyse the sector through the case study of the Comité d'Agricultura Ecológica de la Comunitat Valenciana (CAECV), the regional certifier of organic production in this particular Spanish region