In this paper we challenge Parente and Prescott's (1999) theoretical framework, which establishes that unions use their control of "work practices" to thwart the efficient use of technology in the firms. We argue instead that unions, despite endowing monopoly rights over a technology, should...

This paper studies the long run growth implications of the presence of information acquisition and transmission costs. We assume that vertical innovation requires researchers to be informed on the current version of the product they want to improve upon; and we also assume that quasi-fixed...

This paper presents a standard endogenous growth framework in which the source of growth is represented by vertical innovations. The crucial assumption we introduce is that there is a positive information gap concerning the discovery of innovation. The aim of reducing the...

This paper shows that standard Schumpeterian theory does not imply that the incumbent monopolist has too little incentive to carry out R&D aimed at displacing its own product. If the patent holder is rational as is any other R&D investor, she will know that in equilibrium her patent's...

Ideas about what is "fair" above and beyond the individuals' position in the income ladder determine preferences for redistribution. We study the dynamic evolution of different economies in which redistributive policies, perception of fairness, inequality and growth are jointly determined. We...