The determinants of co-inventor tie formation: proximity and network dynamics

This paper investigates the determinants of co-inventor tie formation using micro-data on genomic patents from 1990 to 2006 in France. We consider in a single analysis the relational and proximity perspectives that are usually treated separately. In order to do so, we analyse the determinants of network ties that occur within existing components and between two distinct components (i.e. bridging ties). We test the argument that formation of these two different types of ties results from distinct strategies in accessing resources. Doing so, we contrast network and proximity determinants of network formation and we investigate if social network allows economic actors to cross over geographical, technological and organizational boundaries.Social networks, relational perspective, proximity, co-patenting, network formation

Theories of the firm: How to rule out competing views?

Comment expliquer l’existence de la firme, l’arbitrage entre faire et faire-faire ? À partir d’une comparaison des propositions de la théorie des coûts de transaction et de l’approche en terme de ressources, nous montrons que les travaux empiriques ne permettent pas de les départager. À partir d’une discussion sur la méthodologie empirique, nous avançons que les théories devraient être testées les unes par rapport aux autres au lieu de réaliser des tests qui corroborent les propositions qui leur sont spécifiques.What is a firm? What explains the trade-off between make-or buy decisions? Based on a discussion confronting the Transaction Cost Theory and the Resource-based view, we show that despite many empirical studies, very few are shaped in order to rule out competing views of the firm. The paper raises the question of the methodology of empirical testing: theories should be tested one against the other instead of simply corroborating the propositions specific to each theoretical framework

The determinants of co-inventor tie formation: proximity and network dynamics

This paper investigates the determinants of co-inventor tie formation using micro-data on genomic patents from 1990 to 2006 in France. We consider in a single analysis the relational and proximity perspectives that are usually treated separately. In order to do so, we analyse the determinants of network ties that occur within existing components and between two distinct components (i.e. bridging ties). We test the argument that formation of these two different types of ties results from distinct strategies in accessing resources. Doing so, we contrast network and proximity determinants of network formation and we investigate if social network allows economic actors to cross over geographical, technological and organizational boundaries.Social networks, relational perspective, proximity, co-patenting, network formation

Proximity, network formation and inventive performance: in search of the proximity paradox

This paper investigates how network relations, proximity and their interplay affect collaboration and their inventive performance. Using patent citations as a proxy for patent quality, we investigate how the network and proximity characteristics of co-inventors enable them to access different sources of knowledge, in different geographical and organizational contexts, and finally affect the quality of inventive collaboration. Our findings enable to address the proximity paradox, which states that proximity facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing, but it does not necessarily increase innovative performance, too much proximity may even harm innovation (Boschma and Frenken, 2009; Broekel and Boschma, 2011)

Research collaboration in co-­inventor networks: combining closure,bridging and proximities

This paper investigates the determinants of co-inventor tie formation using micro-data on genomic patents from 1990 to 2006 in France. In a single analysis, we consider the relational and proximity perspectives that are usually treated separately. In order to do so, we analyse various forms of proximity as alternative driving forces behind network ties that occur within existing components (i.e. closure ties) as well as those between two distinct components (i.e. bridging ties). In doing so, we contrast network and proximity determinants of network formation and we investigate to what extent social networks allow economic actors to cross over geographical, technological and organizational boundaries

The determinants of co-inventor tie formation: proximity and network dynamics

This paper investigates the determinants of co-inventor tie formation using micro-data on genomic patents from 1990 to 2006 in France. We consider in a single analysis the relational and proximity perspectives that are usually treated separately. In order to do so, we analyse the determinants of network ties that occur within existing components and between two distinct components (i.e. bridging ties). We test the argument that formation of these two different types of ties results from distinct strategies in accessing resources. Doing so, we contrast network and proximity determinants of network formation and we investigate if social network allows economic actors to cross over geographical, technological and organizational boundaries

La dimension spatiale dans le choix des collectivités de déléguer leurs services publics : le cas de la distribution d’eau en France

En utilisant une base de données sur les choix organisationnels effectués par les collectivités locales en France dans le secteur de l’eau, nous montrons l’intérêt de l’introduction de la dimension spatiale dans le débat sur les partenariats public-privé. En effet, la proximité géographique des opérateurs privés peut refléter leur volonté de regrouper leurs activités et ainsi de profiter de synergies réduisant leurs coûts. Elle peut aussi refléter d’autres stratégies. Il ressort de nos résultats que les choix de la délégation de service public ainsi que de l’opérateur sont fortement influencés par cette dimension spatiale. De plus, l’agglomération des délégations de service public a aussi pour effet d’accroître le prix de l’eau.Using original data concerning organizational choices made by French local authorities awarding their local public services, we show how the spatial dimension may contribute to the debate on public-private partnerships. If geographic agglomeration of private operators may be explain by some search of synergies and cost reduction, it may also be explained by other strategies. Our results show that the spatial distribution of private operators is not random and that the decision to delegate the services to a specific operator is influenced by the choices made by close neighbors. It also appears that this spatial configuration tends to increase the price of water distribution

Introduction

L’objectif de ce numéro thématique est double. Il s’agit en premier lieu d’introduire l’économétrie spatiale à la communauté des économistes industriels afin d’en montrer l’intérêt et d’en généraliser l’usage. En second lieu, nous avons veillé à présenter des articles empiriques mettant en œuvre dans des contextes différents et pour des objectifs divers ces techniques afin d’en montrer l’intérêt mais surtout la richesse des approches et applications possibles. L’économétrie spatiale consiste ..

A review of the rural-digital policy agenda from a community resilience perspective

© 2016 The Authors This paper utilises a community resilience framework to critically examine the digital-rural policy agenda. Rural areas are sometimes seen as passive and static, set in contrast to the mobility of urban, technological and globalisation processes (Bell et al., 2010). In response to notions of rural decline (McManus et al., 2012) rural resilience literature posits rural communities as ‘active,’ and ‘proactive’ about their future (Skerratt, 2013), developing processes for building capacity and resources. We bring together rural development and digital policy-related literature, using resilience motifs developed from recent academic literature, including community resilience, digital divides, digital inclusion, and rural information and communication technologies (ICTs). Whilst community broadband initiatives have been linked to resilience (Plunkett-Carnegie, 2012; Heesen et al., 2013) digital inclusion, and engagement with new digital technologies more broadly, have not. We explore this through three resilience motifs: resilience as multi-scalar; as entailing normative assumptions; and as integrated and place-sensitive. We point to normative claims about the capacity of digital technology to aid rural development, to offer solutions to rural service provision and the challenges of implementing localism. Taking the UK as a focus, we explore the various scales at which this is evident, from European to UK country-level