A competitive idea-based growth model

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we present a model in which endogenous growth arises in competitive markets. Knowledge is described as a factor used directly in the final goods' production. Firms demand both basic nonrival knowledge contents, which are supplied jointly and inelastically with raw labor, and further contents supplied by patent holders. This fact, together with Lindahl prices for knowledge, allows competition to work, while it also implies that workers' income share declines overtime. In a first version of the model with constant cost of knowledge production, the first best is attained. In a further version of the model, in which the cost of knowledge production is allowed to change over time and thus intertemporal externalities arise, in a decentralized economy a second best equilibrium occurs in the transitional period, while in the long run there is convergence to efficiency.     

Cultural tourism behaviour and preferences among the live‐performing arts audience: an application of the univorous–omnivorous framework

This study uses the omnivorous–univorous theoretical framework of the arts marketing studies to identify relationships between the live‐performing arts and cultural tourism behaviours and preferences. Patrons of a major performing arts centre were segmented in three groups — sporadic, univores and omnivores — and examined regarding their cultural tourism behaviours and preferences. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among groups in terms of demographic characteristics, art and culture consumption and cultural tourism behaviour and preferences. Study results add to the body of knowledge of tourism, suggesting that the culture omnivorous consumption behaviour reported in art marketing studies is also relevant to cultural tourism. Results suggest the existence of omnivorous cultural tourists seeking a wide variety of cultural products and experiences. The identification of a group of individuals with little interest and consumption of culture, including cultural travel destinations, also emerges from this study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Between Forestry and Farming: Policy and Environmental Implications of the Barriers to Agroforestry Adoption

Farming and forestry are practices with clearly defined institutions, markets, and policies. These are not as clearly defined for agroforestry, a practice experiencing increased interest in the USA. This study examined the barriers preventing the adoption of agroforestry within a household level theoretical framework informed by transaction costs and multifunctionality, using survey data from 353 Missouri (USA) landowners. Costs of establishing or managing trees, the time required to manage, and the lack of tree management experience are perceived as the most influential barriers limiting implementation of agroforestry on the farm. A principal component factor analysis of the perceived barriers identified two factors: the first, labeled Transaction Costs, related to information access and perceived establishment costs; the second factor, labeled Profitability Concerns, was associated with perceptions of the effects of agroforestry on farm profitability and agricultural production. Overall, Transaction Costs appears to be a greater barrier to implementation of agroforestry. Cluster analysis yielded three types of landowners: environmentalists, agriculturalists, and disengaged, who differ in their perceptions of these barriers. Statistical tests revealed differences among clusters on their farmland attributes, multifunctionality indicators, and their resources for adopting agroforestry. Environmentalists appear as more likely to adopt agroforestry, followed by the agriculturalists. Policy implications are also discussed. Les secteurs de l’agriculture et de la foresterie possèdent des institutions, des marchés et des politiques clairement définis. Ces éléments ne sont pas aussi clairement définis dans le cas du secteur de l’agroforesterie, qui recueille un intérêt croissant aux États‐Unis. Dans la présente étude, nous avons examiné les obstacles à l’adoption de l’agroforesterie à l’aide d’un cadre théorique au niveau des ménages comprenant des données sur les coûts de transaction et la multifonctionnalité issues d’un sondage réalisé auprès de 353 propriétaires fonciers dans l’État du Missouri, aux États‐Unis. Les coûts de plantation, le temps nécessaire à la gestion et le manque d’expérience en gestion arboricole sont perçus comme étant les principaux obstacles à l’implantation de l’agroforesterie sur la ferme. Une analyse en composantes principales a permis de déterminer deux facteurs : le premier, appelé Coûts de transaction (Transaction Costs), était liéà l’accès à l’information et aux coûts de plantation perçus; le deuxième, appelé Inquiétudes sur la rentabilité (Profitability Concerns), était liéà la perception des conséquences de l’agroforesterie sur la rentabilité et la production de la ferme. De manière générale, les Coûts de transaction semblent constituer le plus important obstacle à l’implantation de l’agroforesterie. Une analyse de grappes a fait ressortir trois types de propriétaires fonciers : les environnementalistes, les agriculturalistes et les désengagés, qui ont une perception bien différente de ces obstacles. Des tests statistiques ont révélé des différences parmi les grappes quant aux attributs de leurs terres agricoles, aux indicateurs de multifonctionnalité et à leurs ressources pour adopter l’agroforesterie. Les Environnementalistes semblent plus enclins à adopter l’agroforesterie, suivis des Agriculturalistes. Nous avons aussi abordé l’incidence sur les politiques.     

Nascent Entrepreneurs' Motivations in European Economies: A Gender Approach Using GEM Data

ABSTRACT

Entrepreneurship is becoming an important source of employment for women in many countries. There are different circumstances and motives that contribute to the decision to start a business. In this study, we developed a model that can estimate the probability of individuals becoming nascent entrepreneurs by opportunity or necessity. The model considers individuals' sociodemographic characteristics and European economies' perceived characteristics as oriented towards efficiency or innovation. Statistical logistic regression was used to test the model. The results show statistically significant differences between genders, European economies oriented either to efficiency or innovation, and entrepreneurs who are born out of opportunity or necessity.     

Voluntary or mandatory enrollment in training and the motivation to transfer training

The purpose of this study is to examine the motivation to transfer training in a multidimensional way. It investigates autonomous and controlled motivation and explores the difference in motivation to transfer according to whether the employee is enrolled in training on a voluntary or mandatory basis. This is a cross‐sectional hypotheses‐testing study. Data were collected at a large insurance company involving employees who had participated in training programs in the previous 6 months. Findings show that when considering autonomous motivation to transfer, results support the argument that being voluntarily enrolled in the training program shows a higher impact on motivation to transfer than being mandatorily enrolled. When considering controlled motivation to transfer, results do not support such an argument, probably because of the nature of controlled motivation to transfer that in practice reduces the difference in results between the two types of enrollment.     

Hope and positive affect mediating the authentic leadership and creativity relationship

The study analyzes how authentic leadership (AL) predicts employees' creativity both directly and through the mediating role of employees' positive affect and hope. Two hundred and three employees working in Portuguese retail organizations participate in the research. Employees report their hope and positive affective states, as well as the AL of their supervisors. Supervisors report the employees' creativity. The main findings are: (a) AL predicts employees' creativity, both directly and through the mediating role of employees' hope; (b) AL also predicts employees' positive affect, which in turn predicts employees' hope and, thus, creativity. The study enriches the understanding of the processes through which AL improves employees' creativity, and provides valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners. By promoting AL, and employees' hope and positive affect, organizations may increase employees' creative performance, creativity being an important path to organizational performance.     

Entrepreneurial orientation and motivation to start up a business: evidence from the health service industry

This study aims to investigate the entrepreneurial orientation and motivation to start up a business in a specific group of health care professionals (HCP), namely diagnostic and therapy technicians. Primary data collected through a sample of 367 HCP is used. The results regarding the entrepreneur’s psychological and cognitive profile supported the hypothesis that HCP who have previously created a firm have particular psychological and cognitive characteristics conducive to entrepreneurial activity. The results also demonstrate that motivation influences the willingness of firm creation. Additionally, this study highlights some implications for management seeking to promote the emergence of context-relevant conditions that would allow HCP to launch their own business venture more readily.