We propose a stylised dynamic model to understand the role of social networks in the phenomenon we call "globalization." This term refers to the process by which even agents who are geographically far apart come to interact, thus being able to overcome what would otherwise be a fast saturation...

Suppose that homogeneous agents fully consume their time to invent new ideas and learn ideas from their friends. If the social network is complete and agents pick friends and ideas of friends uniformly at random, the distribution of ideas׳ popularity is an extension of the Yule–Simon...

The objective of this paper is to analyse the dynamics of networks in which new knowledge emerges and through which it is exchanged. Our conjecture is that the structure of a network cannot be divorced from the dynamics of the knowledge underpinning its activities. In so doing we look beyond...

Although the literature converges regarding the reasons why and how networks of technology alliances are formed, there is still lack of agreement on what constitutes an optimal network structure, once it has been formed. The aim of this paper is to fill this void and to determine what...

Empirical research on strategic alliances has focused on the idea that alliance partners are selected on the basis of social capital considerations. In this paper we emphasize instead the role of complementary knowledge stocks (broadly defined) in partner selection, arguing not only that...

Diese Studie wurde von Kai Sülzle während seiner Tätigkeit am ifo Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung verfasst. Sie wurde im April 2007 fertig gestellt und zur Promotion an der Volkswirtschaftlichen Fakultät der Technischen Universität Dresden angenommen, wo sie am 26. Juni 2007 erfolgreich...

The objective of the PICK-ME (Policy Incentives for Creation of Knowledge – Methods and Evidence) research project is to provide theoretical and empirical perspectives on innovation which give a greater role to the demand-side aspect of innovation. The main question is how can policy make...

Nowadays, economical reality in developed countries shows that the most important and efficient investments are those related to intelligence, stimulating creativity and knowledge. Investments orientation to these three directions guided to the creation of what literature of specialty calls...

This paper considers the financing of a research project under uncertainty about the time of completion and the probability of eventual success. The uncertainty about future success gradually diminishes with the arrival of addtional funding. The entrepreneur controls the funds and can divert...

This paper investigates the extent to which innovative activity in a metropolitan area is affected by knowledge spillovers in the neighboring metropolitan areas as well as in the metropolitan area itself. The spatial econometric analysis shows that innovative activity in a metropolitan area is...