nep-sog New Economics Papers
on Sociology of Economics
Issue of 2007‒12‒08
four papers chosen by
Jonas Holmström
Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration

  1. Turning science into business: A case study of a major European research university. By Azèle Mathieu; Martin Meyer; Bruno Van Pottelsberghe
  2. Grade Inflation under the Threat of Students' Nuisance: Theory and Evidence By Wan-Ju Iris Franz
  3. The Economic Impacts of Iowa State University in Fiscal 2006 By Swenson, David A.; Eathington, Liesl
  4. Schumpeter et la sociologie économique : le cas de l'entrepreneur By Abdelaziz Berkane

  1. By: Azèle Mathieu (Centre Emile Bernheim, Solvay Business School, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels.); Martin Meyer (SPRU - Science & Technology Policy Research Freeman Centre University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.); Bruno Van Pottelsberghe (Centre Emile Bernheim, Solvay Business School, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels and DULBEA, Université Libre de Bruxelles and ECARES, Université Libre de Bruxelles.)
    Abstract: The ‘entrepreneurial university’ is an increasingly frequent notion in debates about new ways of knowledge production and the changing relationships between university, industry and government. A rich literature has developed exploring outputs of such activity, most notably ‘patenting’, ‘licensing’, and ‘spin-outs’. There is also a literature exploring the organisational process in institutes of higher education (HEI’s). All too often these two streams of literature ignore each other. The objective of this paper is to make a bridging contribution by exploring the case of Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.). The main research question is: Does it pay to make the entire university entrepreneurial? Our observations suggest that this would be an effort that could possibly overstretch an institution’s resources. The U.L.B. case illustrates the potential for nurturing entrepreneurial activities locally as well as the possibilities and limitations of top-down actions instilling entrepreneurial culture mongst academic rank and file.
    Keywords: technology transfer, entrepreneurial university, patent, licenses, spin-off
    JEL: D23 M13 O31 O32 O34
    Date: 2007–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sol:wpaper:07-035&r=sog
  2. By: Wan-Ju Iris Franz (Department of Economics, University of California-Irvine)
    Abstract: This study examines a channel, students’ nuisance, to explain grade inflation. “Students’ nuisance” is defined by “students’ pestering the professors for better grades.” This paper contains two parts: the game theoretic model and the empirical tests. The model shows that the potential threat of students’ nuisance can induce the professors to inflate grades. Ceteris paribus, a student is more likely to study little and to pester the professor for a better grade if: 1. the professor is lenient; 2. the studying cost is high; 3. the reward from pestering is high; 4. the cost of pestering is low. My original survey data show that 70%+ of professors think that students’ nuisance is “annoying” and “costly in terms of time, effort, and energy.” Regression results indicate that themore the student values the grade, the higher the studying cost, and the more likely the student is to pester the professor.
    Keywords: Grade inflation; Grade exaggeration; Students' nuisance
    JEL: D82 I20 I21
    Date: 2007–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irv:wpaper:070806&r=sog
  3. By: Swenson, David A.; Eathington, Liesl
    Abstract: Iowa State University has a strong economic impact in the state of Iowa. A portion of that impact is attributable to the university's role educating Iowa students and providing community services via its Extension services and through other outreach activities. Another portion of the university's impact is due to its role as center for a wide variety of research activities -- activities that are funded largely by non-Iowa firms and governments. In addition, ISU students directly and indirectly contribute strongly to the central Iowa economy. This report measures the value of ISU to the overall Iowa economy.
    JEL: O1
    Date: 2007–11–29
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:isu:genres:12855&r=sog
  4. By: Abdelaziz Berkane (GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - CNRS : UMR6227 - Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis)
    Abstract: Les écrits sociologiques mais également économiques de Schumpeter sont traversés par l’idée d’une science sociale unifiée, basée sur un élargissement d’analyse du phénomène de développement économique à un processus plus global de changement social. La sociologie économique, définie comme théorie des institutions, est selon Schumpeter la méthode pour appréhender un tel processus. Cette perspective plus large participe, selon l’auteur, au développement de la théorie économique. Cet article montre comment une telle perspective permet l’approfondissement de la théorie de l’innovation, en inscrivant en particulier l’analyse de l’entrepreneur dans une analyse plus générale du leadership social.
    Keywords: entrepreneur ; innovation ; sociologie économique
    Date: 2007–05–14
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:papers:halshs-00192543_v1&r=sog

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