Towards a kernel theory of external knowledge integration for high-tech firms: Exploring a failed theory test

Designing information systems (ISs) requires a thorough understanding of the organizational knowledge processes in which these systems are used. Although much is known about internal organizational knowledge processes, the understanding of external knowledge processes is less developed. Hence, this paper reflects an attempt to operationalize and test a model of the process of external knowledge integration (EKI), consisting of an identification, acquisition, and utilization stage. We utilize high-technology based firms from a variety of high-tech categories including nanotechnology based firms since these firms have critical knowledge integration needs. The results of an international survey, with responses of 317 high-tech companies, suggest that not these three EKI-stages, but four organizational effectiveness functions (goal attainment, pattern maintenance, adaptation, and integration) account for most variation in responses. These findings seem to imply that ISs that are to support the EKI-process should be designed according to organizational effectiveness functions rather than to EKI-stages. It is proposed that each organizational effectiveness function imposes different requirements on ISs because users interact differently with IS in each function.     

基于PSR模型的区域高技术产业创新要素供给评价

区域高技术产业高质量发展需要创新要素有效供给。基于PSR（压力—状态—响应)模型构建高技术产业创新要素供给评价指标体系，采用全局熵法对我国创新要素有效供给现状进行评价，并度量创新要素供给协调度，从创新要素供给综合指数和子系统协调度两个方面评价创新要素有效供给水平。在此基础上将我国区域创新要素供给分为5个梯度，并运用障碍因素诊断模型，分析影响各梯度省域高技术产业创新要素有效供给实现的主要障碍因素。研究发现，影响有效供给的主要障碍层从2009年的压力层与状态层转变为2018年的响应层与状态层，高技术产业发展水平等成为主要障碍因素。各省域应依据自身要素供给主要障碍层和障碍因子，结合自身创新要素供给所处梯度，采取针对性措施，通过强链、补链、固链相结合，实现区域高技术产业创新要素有效供给。     

中国贸易条件变动趋势分析——基于1993-2017年月度数据的研究

基于1993-2017年月度数据研究发现:中国三大贸易条件指数(2010=100)中价格贸易条件上下波动明显,标准差为6.0;收入贸易条件长期稳步上升,近三年相对于最高点下降了15%~20%;要素贸易条件一直呈上升趋势,标准差为66.2.人民币汇率一次性大幅度变动时,中国价格贸易条件有显著变动.人民币显著升值时,价格贸易条件马上明显改善,但维持时间不长,随后又发生逆转.人民币一次性大幅度贬值导致价格贸易条件长期恶化有一定的时滞.国外发生经济或金融危机而中国宏观经济较稳定发展期间,中国价格贸易条件改善.为此,我国应积极推动人民币汇率向均衡汇率靠拢,针对性地采取限产计划,以提升国际分工地位,从根本上改善贸易条件和增加经济福利.     

The Indonesian macroeconomy and the yield curve: A dynamic latent factor approach

We develop a fine representation of the term structure of interest rates in Indonesia and create a link between the yield curve and macroeconomic fundamentals. We construct a state-space representation of the yield curve as a function of three time-varying parameters: level, slope, and curvature factors. The model is then expanded to include three macroeconomic variables: real activity, inflation, and interest rates. We find that the dynamic latent factor model provides a very good fit to characterise the Indonesian yield curve in terms of the statistical properties for each maturity, and in terms of the properties of three latent yield-curve factors. With regards to the relationship to the macroeconomy, we find that there is a large amount of idiosyncratic variation in the yield curve movements. Therefore, macroeconomic variables can only explain small dynamics in the yield curve.     

Factor substitution and taxation in a finance constrained economy

In this paper, we examine the effects of constant-rate factor taxation on macroeconomic stability in the Woodford (1986) model. Our focus is on how the degree of factor substitution, as measured by the elasticity of factor substitution (EOS) in production, affects different balanced-budget tax rules. Analytically, we show that indeterminacy can occur under capital income taxation only when the EOS is very low, whereas indeterminacy under labor income taxation is not subject to the EOS restriction. This finding is robust when we tax all of the factor incomes with equal rates. Thus, in terms of macroeconomic stability, taxing capital income is preferred to taxing labor income.     

FDI in Sub-Saharan Africa: A longitudinal perspective on location-specific factors (2003–2010)

This paper examines the characteristics of Location Specific Factors (LSFs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regarding inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) of 758 MNEs in 2003, 1216 in 2005 and 2402 in 2010 is used to compare the variability in LSFs in ten, 15 and 19 SSA countries respectively. We find firstly the most powerful factors, influencing the political-economy and trade dynamics of hosts to FDI, stable over time. Secondly, by 2010, production inputs become the most important factor for FDI followed by political-economic stability. This result reflects findings in International Business (IB) literature. Policy implications point to unwavering need by SSA to reduce transaction costs for FDI; increase the predictability of the policy environment; and increase the productivity-adjusted cost efficiency of inputs.     

要素价格扭曲、行业异质性与R&D投入关系研究——来自中国制造业28个细分行业的证据

从中观视角研究要素价格扭曲对制造业R&D投入的影响及行业差异，厘清行业异质性背景下要素价格扭曲影响R&D投入的理论机制，运用制造业细分行业数据，结合非线性面板门槛模型进行深入分析。结果显示：要素价格扭曲对制造业R&D资本投入和R&D人力投入均均具有显著抑制效应，行业异质性因素在二者间发挥重要调节作用。进一步，运用面板门槛模型对行业异质性因素的作用进行探究。结果表明，行业特征因素如市场竞争、资本密集度、企业平均规模以及对外开放度在不同门槛值区间，要素价格扭曲对R&D投入的影响效应均存在显著差异。研究结论为全面深化市场化改革、提高要素资源配置效率、促进制造业自主创新转型升级，进而推动创新型国家建设具有一定启示意义。     

基于因子分析的森林康养空间评价 指标体系研究

森林康养空间是开展康养活动、建立森林康养基地 的基本单元。通过4组轮回专家问卷与因子分析法，收集229 份问卷，筛选并构建森林康养空间评价指标体系。结果表明： 1)以康养功能为核心、森林康养空间为目标的评价指标体系 包含3个一级指标、6个二级指标和22个三级指标；2)森林环 境资源与森林空间特征是评价森林康养空间的决定性条件； 3)森林康养空间特征主要体现在环境舒适性、设施便捷性与 空间规模性3方面；4)改善空气负离子浓度、空间可达性、设 施保健功能适宜性、道路联通性、设施服务半径覆盖度和森林 气候舒适度等指标可以显著提升森林康养空间康养效果。本研 究成果能为森林康养空间规划设计及康养效果优化提供一定的 理论支撑。     

Nowcasting and forecasting GDP in emerging markets using global financial and macroeconomic diffusion indexes

This paper contributes to the nascent literature on nowcasting and forecasting GDP in emerging market economies using big data methods. This is done by analyzing the usefulness of various dimension-reduction, machine learning and shrinkage methods, including sparse principal component analysis (SPCA), the elastic net, the least absolute shrinkage operator, and least angle regression when constructing predictions using latent global macroeconomic and financial factors (diffusion indexes) in a dynamic factor model (DFM). We also utilize a judgmental dimension-reduction method called the Bloomberg Relevance Index (BRI), which is an index that assigns a measure of importance to each variable in a dataset depending on the variable’s usage by market participants. Our empirical analysis shows that, when specified using dimension-reduction methods (particularly BRI and SPCA), DFMs yield superior predictions relative to both benchmark linear econometric models and simple DFMs. Moreover, global financial and macroeconomic (business cycle) diffusion indexes constructed using targeted predictors are found to be important in four of the five emerging market economies that we study (Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey). These findings point to the importance of spillover effects across emerging market economies, and underscore the significance of characterizing such linkages parsimoniously when utilizing high-dimensional global datasets.