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on Small Business Management |
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Issue of 2023‒12‒18
thirteen papers chosen by |
| By: | Taha-Yacine Naqach (UCA - Université Cadi Ayyad [Marrakech]); Farid Chaouki (UCA - Université Cadi Ayyad [Marrakech]) |
| Abstract: | Abstract: This study investigates the impact of psychological empowerment on workforce agility in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study employs a quantitative analysis to measure levels of psychological empowerment and workforce agility, assessing the dimensions of psychological empowerment, including Meaning, Self-determination, Competences, and Impact, and examining their influence on workforce agility. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the dimensions of competence and meaning in psychological empowerment and workforce agility. However, the dimensions of impact and self-determination do not exhibit a strong relationship with workforce agility. This research contributes to the existing literature by addressing the gap in knowledge regarding the impact of psychological empowerment on workforce agility in Moroccan SMEs. The findings have practical implications for managers and decision-makers in SMEs, suggesting that organizations should focus on improving their employees' skills and enhancing their sense of work meaning to foster resilience and adaptability. By fostering workforce agility through empowerment, organizations can create a more engaged and adaptable workforce, potentially leading to increased productivity and competitiveness. Keywords: Psychological empowerment, organizational agility, workforce agility, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), construction sector firms. JEL Classification : O15, C3, M1, L74 Paper type: Empirical research |
| Keywords: | Psychological empowerment, organizational agility, workforce agility, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), construction sector firms |
| Date: | 2023–09–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04273418&r=sbm |
| By: | Anissa Hanafi (INAT - Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie); Wafa Koussani (INAT - Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie); Faten Khamassi (INAT - Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie); Nadhira Ben Aissa (INAT - Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie); Nicolas Faysse (UMR G-EAU - Gestion de l'Eau, Acteurs, Usages - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - AgroParisTech - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, Cirad-ES - Département Environnements et Sociétés - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement) |
| Abstract: | In Tunisia, international cooperation projects in support of entrepreneurship boomed after the 2011 revolution. This paper analyses to what extent such projects have built the capacities of those involved in local entrepreneurial "ecosystems". It analyses the main international cooperation projects supporting entrepreneurship in the Kebili and Medenine governorates (southern Tunisia) between 2011 and 2020. The activities of these projects were mapped and two workshops were conducted with actors of the local entrepreneurial ecosystems to discuss their implementation. Fourteen international cooperation projects were identified. These projects mostly focused on increasing the number of enterprises created, e.g., by supporting training, networking and sometimes funding. However, only one project provided support after creation of businesses, and few promoted a culture of entrepreneurship. Overall, these projects generally based their actions on the existing ecosystem of public actors in charge of supporting entrepreneurship. They made limited attempts to build the capacities of those actors, evaluate the functioning of local entrepreneurial ecosystems and coordinate among themselves. |
| Keywords: | Entrepreneurial ecosystem, Ex-post evaluation, International cooperation projects |
| Date: | 2022–12–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04115861&r=sbm |
| By: | Narges Ramezani; Erfan Mohammadi |
| Abstract: | The biotechnology industry presents challenges for startups and small companies due to high costs and complex regulations but also offers opportunities for innovation and growth. Effective strategies for managing biotechnology innovation include partnerships, intellectual property development, digital technologies, customer engagement, and government funding. This paper explores these strategies and highlights the importance of agility and niche focus for success in the industry. By adopting these strategies, startups and small companies can compete in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field. |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2311.08671&r=sbm |
| By: | Thomas Pernet (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne); Mathilde Maurel (CNRS, Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne); Zhao Ruili (Shangaï University of International Business and Economics, China) |
| Abstract: | This study explores the role of internal finance on firms' environmental behavior, focusing specifically on sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in China's rapidly growing industrial sector. Using a rich and unique dataset provided by the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), our baseline results find a statistically significant positive relationship between asset tangibility and SO2 emissions intensity, revealing that credit-constrained firms with higher tangible assets contribute to elevated pollution levels. Additionally, we observe that firms with stronger internal finances experience a significant reduction in SO2 emissions. Our empirical analysis uncovers two key mechanisms through which internal finance influences firm behavior. First, firms with stronger internal financial health, as measured by metrics like cash flow, current ratio, and coverage ratio, are more inclined to invest in Research & Development and Total Factor Productivity, especially in credit-constrained sectors. Second, these financially robust firms are more proactive in adopting SO2 abatement technologies, an effect that becomes more pronounced in the context of credit-constrained firms. Our findings offer a nuanced understanding of how internal financial resources can serve as a dual lever for both innovation and sustainability, particularly in settings where external financing is limited |
| Keywords: | China; Pollution emissions; Financial constraints; Internal financing; TFP |
| JEL: | G2 G32 L25 L6 Q53 |
| Date: | 2023–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mse:cesdoc:23015&r=sbm |
| By: | Robin Kaiji Gong; Yao Amber Li; Kalina Manova; Stephen Teng Sun |
| Abstract: | We investigate how international patent activity enables firms from emerging economies to thrive in the global marketplace. We match Chinese customs data to US patent records and leverage the quasi-random assignment of USPTO patent examiners to identify the causal effect of a US patent grant on the subsequent export performance of Chinese firms. Successful first-time patent applicants achieve significantly higher export growth, compared to otherwise similar first-time applicants that failed. This effect operates only in small part through market protection for technologically patent-related products in the US and is largely driven by expansion in other markets. The response across destinations and products reveals that a US patent award signals the Chinese firm's capacity to produce high-quality products and credibility to honor contracts, mitigating information frictions in international trade. There is little evidence for the relaxation of financial constraints or the promotion of follow-on innovation. |
| Keywords: | patent rights, innovation, export performance, trade, market protection, asymmetric information, signalling |
| Date: | 2023–11–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1962&r=sbm |
| By: | Philippe Aghion; Antonin Bergeaud; Timothee Gigout; Matthieu Lequien; Marc Malitz |
| Abstract: | We examine the effect of entry by French firms into a new export market on the dynamics of their patents' citations received from that destination. Applying a difference-in-differences identification strategy with a staggered treatment design, we show that: (i) entering a new foreign market has a significant impact on the long-run flow of citations; (ii) the impact is mostly driven by the extensive margin; (iii) inventors in destination countries patent mostly in products that do not directly compete with those of the exporting firm; (iv) the spillover intensity decreases with the technological distance between the exporting firm and the destination. |
| Keywords: | international trade, spillover, innovation, patent |
| Date: | 2023–11–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1960&r=sbm |
| By: | Aghion, Philippe; Bergeaud, Antonin; Van Reenen, John |
| Abstract: | We present a framework that can be used to assess the equilibrium impact of regulation on endogenous innovation with heterogeneous firms. We implement this model using French firm-level panel data where there is a sharp increase in the burden of labor regulations on companies with 50 or more employees. Consistent with the model’s qualitative predictions, we find a sharp fall in the fraction of innovating firms just to the left of the regulatory threshold. Furthermore, we find a sharp reduction in the positive innovation response of firms to exogenous demand shocks just below the regulatory threshold. Using the structure of our model we quantitatively estimate parameters and find that the regulation reduces aggregate equilibrium innovation (and growth) by 5.7% which translates into a consumption equivalent welfare loss of at least 2.2%, approximately doubling the static losses in the existing literature. |
| Keywords: | innovation; regulation; patents; firm size |
| JEL: | O31 L11 L51 J80 L25 |
| Date: | 2023–11–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:120206&r=sbm |
| By: | AMARAL-GARCIA Sofia (European Commission - JRC); CONFRARIA Hugo (European Commission - JRC); DOMNICK Clemens (European Commission - JRC); HERVAS Fernando (European Commission - JRC); MONCADA PATERNO' CASTELLO Pietro (European Commission - JRC); RENTOCCHINI Francesco (European Commission - JRC); ZAURINO Elena (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | This working paper sets the scene and provides background information on 'Industrial Innovation for Open Strategic Autonomy”, the main focus of the 9th edition of the European Conference on Corporate R&D and Innovation (CONCORDi 2023), as well as introduces scientific contributions that will be presented at the conference. It thus aims to stimulate fruitful discussion between academia, experts and policy-makers at the conference, identifying potential policy initiatives and areas where additional research and evidence are needed. |
| Date: | 2023–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:wpaper:202303&r=sbm |
| By: | Antonin Bergeaud; Arthur Guillouzouic |
| Abstract: | Following Bergeaud et al. (2022), we construct a new measure of proximity between industrial sectors and public research laboratories. Using this measure, we explore the underlying network of knowledge linkages between scientific fields and industrial sectors in France. We show empirically that there exists a significant negative correlation between the geographical distance between firms and laboratories and their scientific proximity, suggesting strongly localized spillovers. Moreover, we uncover some important differences by field, stronger than when using standard patent-based measures of proximity. |
| Keywords: | knowledge spillovers, technological distance, public laboratories |
| Date: | 2023–11–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1961&r=sbm |
| By: | Einiö, Elias; Feng, Josh; Jaravel, Xavier |
| Abstract: | What are the implications of unequal access to innovation careers for the direction of innovation and inequality? Leveraging novel linked datasets in the United States and Finland, we document that innovators create products more likely to be purchased by consumers like them in terms of gender, socioeconomic status, and age. We find that a key explanatory channel is that social exposure causes a shift in the direction of innovation, independent of financial incentives. Incorporating this "social push" channel into a growth model, we estimate that unequal access to innovation careers has a large effect on cost-of-living inequality and long-run growth. |
| Keywords: | innovation, inequality, growth, innovators' socioeconomic background, Social security, taxation and inequality, O31, O41, D71, fi=Elinkeinopolitiikka|sv=Näringspolitik|en=Industrial and economic policy|, fi=Tulonjako ja eriarvoisuus|sv=Inkomstfördelning och ojämlikhet|en=Income distribution and inequality|, |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fer:wpaper:160&r=sbm |
| By: | Crescenzi, Riccardo; De Filippis, Fabrizio; Giua, Mara; Salvatici, Luca; Vaquero Pineiro, Cristina |
| Abstract: | The Geographical Indications (GIs) scheme of the European Union guarantees visibility and protection to high-quality agri-food products associated with a demarcated region of origin. This paper estimates the impact of the scheme in attracting agri-food Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in European NUTS3 regions, using a novel dataset and a Generalized Propensity Score Matching approach. Areas endorsed with GIs attract more FDI in agri-food related activities than their non-GI counterparts. Positive effects, estimated for FDI inflows, related job creation, and inter-sectoral spillovers on local employment, involves territories with lower institutional quality. |
| Keywords: | foreign direct investment; geographical indications; regional development; territorial policy; European Union; European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme H2020 project BATModel [grant agreement number 861932] and the PON “Ricerca e Innovazione 2014–2020—Azione IV.6. Contratti di ricerca su tematiche Green”; D.M. 1062/2021; Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca. This research was also funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [grant number 10041284]. This work is also part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme [Grant agreement No. 101061104- ESSPIN-HORIZON-CL2-2021-TRANSFORMATIONS-01]; Wiley deal |
| JEL: | R11 Q18 O24 C31 |
| Date: | 2023–10–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:120408&r=sbm |
| By: | Fraunhoffer, Robert; Kim, Ho Young; Schiereck, Dirk |
| Abstract: | This study investigates whether conference calls accompanying M&A announcements in Europe provide valuable information for capital market participants and hence induce an abnormal stock price revaluation on the bidder’s equity. Based on handpicked data for transactions between 2008 and 2012 we focus on the five most acquisitive country markets in Europe. Overall, our results show that bidders are more likely to conduct conference calls with increasing transaction value, for transactions with public targets and non-diversifying transactions. Further, the decision for voluntary disclosure is positively influenced by increased bidder size and the comparably weaker governance systems for German and Swiss firms. After controlling for self-selection bias and other determinants of stock returns around mergers and acquisitions (M&A) announcement, evidence is in strong support that firms with merger-related conference calls yield a higher abnormal return than firms merely publishing a press release. However, significant favourable investor reaction is only present in the UK and French subsamples and in the subsamples of industries with a focus on research and development (R&D). |
| Date: | 2023–11–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dar:wpaper:141432&r=sbm |
| By: | Björnemalm, Rickard (Stockholm School of Economics); Sandström, Christian (The Ratio Institute); Åkesson, Nelly (Lund University) |
| Abstract: | Mission-oriented innovation policies put government and state agencies at the forefront of the innovation process. PrFiguesently, little is known about the interests of the government agencies in charge of implementing mission-oriented innovation policies. In this chapter, we set out to explore the incentives and behavior of such government agencies. We do so by analyzing 30 annual reports from three different government agencies in charge of implementing innovation policies in Sweden over a ten-year period: Sweden’s Innovation Agency (Vinnova), the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten) and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket). First, we track all cases in these annual reports where an evaluation is mentioned. Identifying 654 instances, we subsequently make a sentiment analysis and code whether these statements are positive, neutral or negative. Our findings show that 84 percent of these instances are positive, 12 percent are neutral and four percent are negative. Second, we relate these results to more critical evaluations and show that these agencies often ignore research that generates more critical results. In sum, our results suggest that government agencies in charge of implementing mission-oriented policies benefit from the enlarged role they are given and that they act according to their own self- interest. |
| Keywords: | Mission-oriented; Innovation Policy; Evaluations; Public choice |
| JEL: | O25 O31 O38 O44 Q42 Q55 |
| Date: | 2023–11–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:ratioi:0366&r=sbm |