Workplace organization and innovation

Abstract This study uses panel data on Canadian establishments to explore the relationship between the organization of work – in particular decentralization, information‐sharing, and incentive pay schemes – and innovation. Like other studies, ours finds a clear positive link between these factors. However, the data give strong indications that this relationship is not causal. We show that: (1) the correlation between workplace organization and innovation holds for information‐sharing but is much weaker for decentralized decision‐making or incentive pay programs, (2) controls for unobserved heterogeneity significantly weaken results, and (3) lagged variables give no clear evidence that organizational changes predate innovation.     

Local Planning for Recreation and Tourism: A Case Study of Mountain Biking from New Zealand's Manawatu Region

At the local level, planning for recreation and tourism is not necessarily a straight forward process. Local policy makers may be unable to reflect the complexity of the planning process, particularly when it should consider a variety of views representing different stakeholders. In addition, those involved in planning for recreation and tourism have often treated such activities in isolation from other factors which make up the social, environmental and economic fabric of a region. One of the reasons for this may belack of data, and the research in this article seeksto redress a similarlack in relation to mountain biking in the Manawatu Region of New Zealand. The recent increase in the number of mountain bikers world-wide has prompted studies in the USA and New Zealand, which have indicated a growing concern with environmental impacts, demonstrated attitudes of other recreationalists to mountain bikers and identified a number of management issues. This article presents research conducted in association with the Palmerston North City Council. It suggests that planning for recreation and tourism is often an ad hoc and reactive process and recommends the adoption of a more iterative approach.     

Entrepreneurial marketing strategies during the growth of international new ventures originating in small and open economies

This research provides new knowledge on the development of marketing strategies in international new ventures (INVs) by applying the concept of entrepreneurial marketing to these early internationalizing firms. Using a qualitative approach, the authors identify the key dimensions of this concept in INVs, namely innovativeness and adaptation, and elaborate on both the defining elements and the development of these dimensions. They suggest that the innovativeness and adaptation of marketing strategies decrease during the global growth of INVs. Other contextual issues also underlie the development of international entrepreneurial marketing strategies; in particular, they appear to reflect the turbulence and global diversity of the environment and the market orientation of the INV. The marketing performance of INVs is determined by the fit between international entrepreneurial marketing strategies and the internal and external contingencies of the firm. Propositions for future research and managerial implications are provided.     

Trade Liberalization and Productivity Growth

This paper presents a trade model with firm‐level productivity differences and R&D‐driven growth. Trade liberalization causes the least productive firms to exit but also slows the development of new products. The overall effect on productivity growth depends on the size of intertemporal knowledge spillovers in R&D. When these spillovers are relatively weak, then trade liberalization promotes productivity growth in the short run and makes consumers better off in the long run. However, when these spillovers are relatively strong, then trade liberalization retards productivity growth in the short run and makes consumers worse off in the long run.     

Bilateral and Third‐Country Exchange Rate Effects on Multinational Activity

In an earlier paper, we showed that bilateral exchange rates are important determinants of multinational activity of both the US and Japan and that increases in the bilateral and third‐country exchange rates exert opposing effects on bilateral multinational activity. Furthermore, the signs of the exchange rate coefficients differ between Japan and the US. In this paper, we formulate a three‐country model with coexisting exporters and multinational firms that engage in Cournot competition to rationalize these effects. In this model, we identify two counteracting effects which govern the bilateral and third‐country effects of an exchange rate increase on bilateral multinational activity. Our theoretical framework is flexible enough to explain the Japanese as well as the US patterns of exchange rate effects and it allows us to identify those factors that are responsible for the respective differences.     

Feintuning im Recht der Lebensversicherung zu § 169 Abs. 5 VVG – Neues zum Stornoabzug bei Einmalbeitr?gen sowie zu separaten Abschlusskostenvereinbarungen

The first part of this article deals with surrender charges. Due to the incredible increase of single premium life assurances this already written off instrument came back to discussion. The increase is based on the high income within the range of life assurances compared to interest income for safe investments. Speculations against to the collective of insured become possible as the right of the policyholder to notice a life assurance at any time, §?168 VVG, is inalienable, even concerning single premium assurances. Alerted by that, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (??BaFin??) demands appropriate surrender charges within the single premium matters. However, literature prefers a surrender charge caused by capital market which is consolidated into a lump sum to the amount of 0,2 per cent regarding the total payment of interest, for each year by which the single premium contract is going to be terminated before expiring after 10 years. This point of view can basically be followed. For reasons of principle consideration, the surrender charge must certainly be determined significantly lower than proposed, namely with 0,1 per cent each year. De lege ferenda, the alternative to make restrictions to the right to give notice for single premium assurances may be taken into consideration. The second part of this article deals with acquisition costs. The regional court of Rostock considers a separate agreement relating to cost averaging??whereby the policyholder must continue to pay the instalments for the acquisition costs even after the termination of the life assurance??to be a ??Umgehungsgesch?ft?? (evasive transaction) to §?169 V 2 VVG and is for that reason void. This cannot be followed. A?thoroughly interpretation of the provision shows that it does not prohibit the result, namely the deduction of the surrender value below the value which is determined by §?169 III VVG. The result is rather then prohibited when it is achieved by the non-transparent way of a set off of the costs with the paid assurance premium. That point of view of the regional court of Rostock is therefore contra legem. As the right to modify law is reserved to the legislative authority, it is well advised to observe the actual development for a certain period of time. In regard to that result the policyholder is not made vulnerable. Oftentimes, the liability for consulting activities of the insurer and his intermediaries will interfere in his favour.     

Das auch noch? Deflation als Folge der Finanzkrise

Zusammenfassung  Der weltweite Nachfrageeinbruch im Gefolge der Finanzkrise l?sst befürchten, dass die Preise auf breiter Front sinken. Dem scheint die Geldpolitik jedoch mit verschiedenen Instrumenten begegnen zu k?nnen. Welche M?glichkeiten haben die Zentralbanken über die traditionelle Geldpolitik hinaus? Was lehrt uns das japanische Beispiel? Welche makro?konomische Strategie ist jetzt angebracht? Prof. Dr. Peter Kalmbach, 69, war bis 2005 Hochschullehrer für Wirtschaftswissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Verteilungstheorie und Verteilungspolitik an der Universit?t Bremen.