The Internationalisation of R&D and the Knowledge Production Function

This paper considers the effect of acquisition FDI on the knowledge production function. We distinguish between acquisitions by MNEs from technologically leading countries and those behind the technological frontier. We show that both acquire similarly R&D intensive domestic firms, but there are important differences post-acquisition. Acquisitions from technologically intensive countries reduce domestic R&D effort, in favour of an increase in foreign technology transfers, which suggests complementarities in the knowledge assets of the MNE and the target firm as a reason for FDI. In contrast, consistent with technology sourcing FDI, acquisitions from non-leading countries increase internal R&D efforts.MNE, knowledge production function, acquisition FDI, knowledge complementarities, technology sourcing

Dealing with feelings : perspectives on the emotional labor of school leadership

People are central to the institution of schools. Where there are people, there are emotions. Managing these emotions for wage is the work of school leaders. Recognizing the emotional demand involved in monitoring, managing and understanding this demand is known as emotional labor. The purpose of this qualitative research was to gain an understanding of the essence of emotional labor as experienced by a public school leadership team. Over a period of several months, ten members of a Connecticut, USA, public school, district-wide administrative team, to which this researcher has been an affiliate for thirteen years, acted as co-researchers by participating in semi-structured interviews; team meeting discussions; and written reflections on key notions identified as emotions involved in their leadership roles. Data analysis indicated a significant effort by team members to manage their own feelings as they managed the feelings of others within their school communities, and in an effort to be better leaders. The data illuminated the labor involved in displaying appropriate positive emotions, which participants perceived to be aligned with their school district’s brand of leadership and professionalism. These school leaders admitted to acting, intentionally, at feeling and displaying emotions to foster strong relationships with their constituents to promote a positive school climate. Additionally, the data revealed widespread masking of negative emotions, including: hurt, disappointment, fear, but most notably, anger and frustration. Negative emotions were reported to be directed toward adults, both parents and staff, and participants revealed a toll associated with the suppression of negative feelings. Among the findings, team members reported stress, fatigue and a loss of sense of self as they buried authentic feelings and feigned others in playing the role of school leader. As managers, in almost every sense of the word, team members identified the existence of an us and them mentality pervading their work, leaving them feeling isolated from others in their schools. The strain of their emotional labor appeared to be ameliorated by strong relationships among administrative team members, family members, and other trusted personnel in their buildings who seemed to understand the affective nature of school leadership and were able to acknowledge the conscious effort entailed in being all things to all people. The findings support the position that a significant amount of the work we do, as school leaders, entails managing our emotions and the emotions of others. Intellectualizing emotional labor as the work administrators do with the emotional-self and the emotional-other may enhance relational skills with others and diminish the strain on self. A fundamental understanding of emotional labor in school leadership may have implications for further research and development of curriculum for educational leadership programs in pursuit of emotionally competent school leaders

An Instrument to Assess Self-Statements During Public Speaking: Scale Development and Preliminary Psychometric Properties

Public speaking is the most commonly reported fearful social situation. Although a number of contemporary theories emphasize the importance of cognitive processes in social anxiety, there is no instrument available to assess fearful thoughts experienced during public speaking. The Self-Statements During Public Speaking (SSPS) scale is a 10-item questionnaire consisting of two 5-item subscales, the Positive Self-Statements (SSPS-P) and the Negative Self-Statements subscale (SSPS-N). Four studies report on the development and the preliminary psychometric properties of this instrument

Acceptability and proof of concept of internet-delivered treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress in university students: protocol for an open feasibility trial

BACKGROUND: In recent years, university counseling and mental health services have reported an increase in the number of clients seeking services and in yearly visits. This trend has been observed at many universities, indicating that behavioral and mental health issues pose significant problems for many college students. The aim of this study is to assess the acceptability and proof of concept of internet-delivered treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress for university students. METHODS/DESIGN: The study is an open feasibility trial of the SilverCloud programs for depression (Space from Depression), anxiety (Space from Anxiety), and stress (Space from Stress). All three are 8-module internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) intervention programs. Participants are assigned a supporter who provides weekly feedback on progress and exercises. Participants will complete the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and stress subscale of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) as the outcome measures for the depression, anxiety, and stress interventions, respectively. Other outcomes include measures of acceptability of, and satisfaction, with the intervention. Data will be collected at baseline, 8 weeks and 3-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: It is anticipated that the study will inform the researchers and service personnel of the programs' potential to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in a student population as well as the protocols to be employed in a future trial. In addition, it will provide insight into students' engagement with the programs, their user experience, and their satisfaction with the online delivery format

Supported internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy programs for depression, anxiety, and stress in university students: open, non-randomised trial of acceptability, effectiveness, and satisfaction

BACKGROUND: Many university campuses have limited mental health services that cannot cope with the high demand. One alternative is to use internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) as a way of tackling barriers such as lack of availability and scheduling issues. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, and satisfaction of a supported iCBT intervention offering 3 programs on depression, anxiety, and stress to university students. The design was an open or nonrandomized feasibility trial. METHODS: Participants were recruited from 3 counseling centers at a large midwestern University in the United States. Those agreeing to take part chose 1 of 3 iCBT programs-Space from Depression, Space from Anxiety, or Space from Stress -all comprised 8 modules of media-rich interactive content. Participants were supported throughout the trial by a trained professional. The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, and stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were completed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 3-month follow-up. A Satisfaction With Treatment (SAT) questionnaire was completed at 8 weeks, and qualitative interviews were completed by a subsample of participants at 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 102 participants were recruited, with 52 choosing Space from Anxiety, 31 choosing Space from Depression, and 19 choosing Space from Stress. Mixed-effects models showed a significant decrease in symptoms of depression (F₄=6.36, P<.001), anxiety (F₄=7.97, P<.001), and stress (F₄=8.50, P<.001) over time across all 3 programs. The largest decreases in PHQ-9 scores at 8 weeks were among participants who chose the Space from Depression program (d=0.84); at 3 months, the largest decreases in PHQ-9 scores were among those who chose the Space from Stress program (d=0.74). The largest decreases in GAD-7 scores were among those who chose the Space from Anxiety program (d=0.74 at 8 weeks and d=0.94 at 3 months). The largest decrease in DASS-21 stress subscale scores was among those who chose the Space from Stress program (d=0.49 at 8 weeks and d=1.16 at 3 months). The mean time spent using the platform per session was 27.4 min (SD 33.8), and participants completed 53% (SD 37.6) of the total program content on average. Most (37/53, 69%) participants found the programs helpful or very helpful and liked the convenience and flexibility of the intervention. Qualitative interviews (n=14) indicated the intervention met students' expectations, and they saw it as a valuable complement to face-to-face treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The iCBT programs tested in our study appear to be feasible, acceptable, and effective in a university environment. Participants described the benefits of having a flexible, supported Web-based intervention available on campus. Larger trials should be conducted to further test the effectiveness of supported Web-based interventions that give students a choice of program depending on their symptom profile.Published versio

Die neue neue Außenhandelstheorie: das Melitz-Modell

Standard international trade lectures normally comprises three central theories: the Ricardian Model, the Heckscher-Ohlin-Samuelson Modell and New Trade Theory à la Krugman 1979 and 1980. Nowadays this trilogy needs to be enhanced with the basic concepts of a new class of trade models: the New New Trade Theory which accounts for firm heterogeneity and market entry costs. The basic objective of this paper is to present the contribution of Marc J. Melitz in Econometrica 2003 which is central to this new class of trade theory. I show how it is embedded in antecedent theory and highlight the new insights for trade patterns stemming from it. --Trade Theory,Heterogenous Firms,Monopolistic Competition,Entry,Exit,Firm Size,Export Decision

Scoring Error of Social Avoidance and Distress Scale and its Psychometric Implications

An error in the scoring instructions of the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SAD), one of the most popular instruments to measure social anxiety, is discussed

Multinationals and the globalization of R&D

In this paper we consider how the location, organization and output of knowledge production evolve within domestic firms following acquisition-FDI in order to understand the aggregate effect on an index of domestically produced innovations. We find strong differences according to how close the acquiring MNE is to the technologically frontier. Frontier MNEs are more likely to close R&D activities in acquired affiliates, but when they are retained they expand employment of high-skilled R&D workers and transfer R&D knowledge. Non-frontier MNEs make fewer changes to R&D. Overall the effect of acquisition-FDI on the domestic innovation index is positive