Drivers to firm innovation and their effects on performance: an international comparison

This research aims to analyse the drivers to company innovation and their effects on the financial performance. This study is based upon a sample of companies, located in two neighbouring countries (Portugal and Spain). Linear regression was the methodology deployed to analyse the importance of innovation types (differences between Portugal and Spain). To analyse the extent to which the innovation capacity variables influence financial performance (turnover), we made recourse to Probit Regression models. Our results show significant differences in terms of both the drivers and inhibitors to innovation in these two countries. The introduction of products into new markets only proved significant at Spanish companies whilst innovations in both products and processes are significant in both sets of Iberian companies.     

Road accidents involving bicycles: configurations and injuries

This study analyzed the most common types of accident involving bicycles and compared the frequency of injuries. The data source was the database of German In-Depth Accident Study (GIDAS). Cases consist of bicycles and their riders involved in accidents between 2000 and 2010. In most collisions, the bicycle impacted with a car. The percentage of injured bicyclists was higher in collisions with a heavy vehicle and decreased when the bicycle impacted with lighter vehicles. A high percentage of injured bicyclists in single accidents was observed; the most severe injury was more frequently to head and extremities. Accidents involving a car and a bicycle with the right of way in a bicycle path represented about 20% of involved and injured bicyclists. The ten most frequent configurations represented about 60% of involved and injured bicyclists. These results contribute to understand the dangerous scenarios for bicyclists and to suggest preventive actions.     

What's Behind CRM Research? A Bibliometric Analysis of Publications in the CRM Research Field

The diversity of approaches to customer relationship management (CRM) brings about the need for systematic reviews. The objective of this article is to identify and categorize the most used publications in the CRM field. We conducted a bibliometric analysis using the Web of Science database. To identify and categorize the subfields, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis. The most used publications were categorized into: (1) methodology in the CRM research field; (2) relationship marketing; (3) service quality and customer loyalty; (4) implications of market-oriented strategy; (5) CRM theory and its practical implications; (6) strategic management; and (7) customer value.     

Quantile estimation of frontier production function

The purpose of the paper is to provide new information on the performance of frontier estimation methods, using data from Italian hotel industry. Quantile regression is also suggested as solution to frontier production function estimation. It is shown that, while the choice of estimation methods among conventional techniques significantly affects the economic analysis, quantile regression provides valuable new information by estimating the whole spectrum of production functions corresponding to different efficiency levels. In addition, the method makes available a coherent framework to analyze the performance of the conventional techiniques. Jel classification: C14, C16, D24We would like to thank the Co-Editor, the Associate Editor and an anonymous referee for comments and suggestions. The research was supported by the University Research Council and the National Research Council. The usual disclaimer applies.The estimates were computed using the Roger Koenker and StatLibS-Plus routine of quantile regression and the Tim Coelli and CEPA Web site FRONTIER 4.1 Program. The data set is provided by the Ho.Re.Ca. survey conducted by ISTAT in 1992.First version received: June 2001/Final version received: December 2002     

Do standards improve the quality of traded products?

We examine whether standards raise the quality of traded products. Matching a panel of French firm–product–destination export data with a data set on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade, we find that such quality standards enforced on products by destination countries: (i) favour the export probability of high-quality firms provided that their productivity is high enough, (ii) raise the export sales of high-productivity, high-quality firms at the expense of low-productivity and low-quality firms and (iii) increase the quality supplied by firms if their productivity is high enough. We then develop a simple new trade model under uncertainty about product quality in which heterogeneous firms can strategically invest in quality signalling to rationalize these empirical results on quality and selection effects.     

Graduate employment: Does the type of higher education institution matter?

The paper analyses whether the type of institution from which students graduate has an impact on their unemployment propensity. It uses official data on the Portuguese higher education system, for 2018, at the program/institution level, which provides information on graduate unemployment, as well as demographic and socioeconomic background information. A fractional probit model on graduates’ propensity for unemployment is estimated. Results suggest that polytechnic graduates face higher unemployment propensity than university graduates, maintaining inequalities present in students’ previous trajectories. Policies targeting socioeconomic segregation need to address not only access to higher education but also the transition to the labor market.     

Stemming the gender gap in STEM entrepreneurship – insights into women’s entrepreneurship in science,technology, engineering and mathematics

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are notably important for innovation and technological development, which in turn are seen as drivers of social and economic growth. Hence, researchers and policy-makers have paid substantial attention to analyzing and promoting high-growth ventures in STEM fields. However, STEM fields are highly gender-skewed, regardless of whether the population considered is students, faculty members, graduates, top managers, or entrepreneurs. This is noticeable in the small number of women entrepreneurs with STEM backgrounds. This underrepresentation of women in innovation-driven business startups highlights existing gender biases and systemic disadvantages in social structures, making visible the double masculinity that exists at the intersection of STEM and entrepreneurship. This article addresses this issue by combining insights from research about women’s entrepreneurship and research about the gender aspects of STEM fields. We emphasize institutional, organizational, and individual factors influencing women’s entrepreneurship in STEM fields, laying the foundation for the articles included in this special issue. Finally, we discuss the way forward for research on the gender aspects of STEM entrepreneurship to help us create the knowledge needed to close this gender gap.

     

Optimal convergence rates,Bahadur representation,and asymptotic normality of partitioning estimators

This paper studies the asymptotic properties of partitioning estimators of the conditional expectation function and its derivatives. Mean-square and uniform convergence rates are established and shown to be optimal under simple and intuitive conditions. The uniform rate explicitly accounts for the effect of moment assumptions, which is useful in semiparametric inference. A general asymptotic integrated mean-square error approximation is obtained and used to derive an optimal plug-in tuning parameter selector. A uniform Bahadur representation is developed for linear functionals of the estimator. Using this representation, asymptotic normality is established, along with consistency of a standard-error estimator. The finite-sample performance of the partitioning estimator is examined and compared to other nonparametric techniques in an extensive simulation study.     

Africa’s contribution to Qatar’s diversification priorities in the immediate to long term

Diversification experiences started across the African continent in the immediate post-independence period, in an attempt to break with traditional colonial models of development. Most African countries embarked upon industrial development during the 1960s and the 1970s, in order to diversify their economies and reduce their risk dependency on primary commodities due to the fluctuation in prices. After a change of priorities in the 1980s and 1990s, there has recently been a renewed attention and debate on economic diversification in Africa. Insight gained from African experiences demonstrates that new activities and capacities can be set in place via linkages with natural resource exploitation. Investment opportunities in non-energy sectors in Africa are nevertheless also critical and need to be examined. In fact, the success of diversification strategies depends on a sound development strategy, inspiring comprehensive public policy frameworks, strong political leadership, and a sound natural resource governance framework including diversification. Presenting examples and insights from various African countries, the article highlights misperceptions and improvements of socio-economic conditions in Africa useful to properly assess risks and opportunities in various contexts. Analyzing the role of the private sector and of African state-owned institutions related to foreign direct investments in non-energy sectors, the article focuses on strategies, lessons learned, and challenges of economic diversification.     

Corruption and positive selection in privatization

We consider the supply of a public good based on a publicly owned facility. The Government has a choice between provision in-house and privatizing the facility and then outsourcing the production. In particular, we focus on corruption in the decision to privatize and on its effect on social welfare when there is asymmetric information on the public and private manager's efficiency. Our analysis shows that a corrupt Government, that chooses to privatize only in exchange for a bribe, makes a positive selection on the private firm's efficiency and, thus, may have a positive effect on social welfare.