Productivity, networks and knowledge flows

Abstract

This introduction to the special issue of EINT surveys a collection of eight papers that study innovation and productivity at the firm level and the industry level for a number of European countries. This focus is supported by the view that an innovating firm can maintain a favourable position in terms of profits, productivity and growth by following a path along which its knowledge-creation efforts have become a regular activity. The performance of an innovating firm is also affected by the firm's accession of external knowledge sources, and this gives firms an incentive to develop innovation networks.

Keywords:

• innovation
• productivity
• network
• knowledge flow
• spillovers

JEL Classification:

• D22
• D24
• L60
• O33
• O52

Notes

1. The draft contributions were first presented in a symposium on December 2012 at the University of Gothenburg. The symposium was organized in memory of Professor Lennart Hjalmarsson. All contributions have gone through a review process to guide authors to revise their papers.