Seit Dezember 1990 führt das ifo Institut Sondererhebungen zu den Innovationsaktivitäten durch. Das Datenmaterial kann nach Unternehmensgröße, Branchen und Regionen differenziert werden. Der Berichtskreis vergrößerte sich von 473 Unternehmen im Jahr 1990 auf 783 Teilnehmer 1992. Der den...

Die Erhebungen ergaben, daß sich sowohl der Anteil der Produktinnovatoren als auch der Anteil der Prozeßinnovatoren erhöht hat. Parallel dazu verbesserte sich auch die Umsatzstruktur. Beide Effekte dürften allerdings in erheblichem Umfang durch das Ausscheiden von nicht-innovativen...

We argue that industries and industry segments are characterized by a clockspeed that gauges the velocity of change in the external business environment and sets the pace of their firms' internal operations. Using data from the electronics industry, we develop and validate an integrated metric...

This paper develops a model to analyse the implications of firing costs on incentives for R&D and international specialization. The key idea is that, to avoid paying firing costs, the country with a rigid labour market will tend to produce relatively secure goods, at late stages in their product...

China’s transformation into a dynamic private-sector-led economy and its integration into the world economy have been among the most dramatic global economic developments of recent decades. This paper provides an overview of some of the key aspects of recent developments in China’s...

Central America has received growing attention as a region that is integrating successfully into the global economy. This paper examines—among other things—the macroeconomic and fiscal implications of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA-DR), noting that the...

This paper presents the primary institutions and economic policies that have led to Chile’s remarkable record of stability and growth over the past twenty years. The core of this policy stance is the combination of fiscal discipline and an open trade policy regime, together with carefully...

Current U.S. trade policy stresses establishing free trade areas (FTAs) with partners spanning the globe. Motivations include enhancing goods and services trade; stimulating investment flows; extending standards on intellectual property rights, labor, and the environment; and addressing...