The literature on institutions and economic growth has showed that different institutions or policy designs affects productivity growth and international R&D spillovers. By changing the level of competition and/or affecting resources allocation, institutions can have a significant impact on firms' incentives to innovation. In this paper we test whether the existing institutional variation among European countries explains differences in innovation intensity. Our findings show that stronger regulation in the product market and greater protection of property rights favour innovation activity across Europe, whereas rigidity in the labor market affects negatively firms' incentives to innovate. These results highlight the importance of institutions in shaping innovation, thereby providing a contribution to the design of economic policy.

D Do oe es s v ve en nt tu ur re e c ca ap pi it ta al l r re ea al ll ly y f fo os st te er r i in nn no ov va at ti io on n? ?" " A An na a P Pa au ul la a F Fa ar ri ia a N Na at tá ál li ia a B Ba ar rb bo os sa a NIPE WP 03/ 2013 " "D Do oe es s v ve en nt tu ur re e c ca ap pi it ta al l r re ea al ll ly y f fo os st te er r i in nn no ov va at ti io on n? ?" " A An na a P Pa au ul la a F Fa ar ri ia a N Na at tá ál li ia a B Ba ar rb bo os sa a N NI IP PE E *

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Background: Optimum patient care in relation to laboratory medicine is achieved when results of laboratory tests are equivalent, irrespective of the analytical platform used or the country where the laboratory is located. Standardization and harmonization minimize differences and the success of efforts to achieve this can be monitored with international category 1 external quality assessment (EQA) programs.

" "I In nd du us st tr ry y-a an nd d f fi ir rm m-s sp pe ec ci if fi ic c f fa ac ct to or rs s o of f i in nn no ov va at ti io on n n no ov ve el lt ty y" " N Na at tá ál li ia a B Ba ar rb bo os sa a A An na a P Pa au ul la a F Fa ar ri ia a V Va as sc co o E Ei ir ri iz z

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This paper investigates the main determinants of adoption of flexible production technologies (FPTs), using a cross-section of Portuguese manufacturing firms. In order to investigate the determinants of adoption by Portuguese firms we estimate a probit model of technology adoption, where rank, location, industry and demand uncertainty effects are considered. The main findings are that: (i) plant heterogeneity is important in understanding differences in the likelihood of adoption; (ii) spillover effects resulting from geographical proximity foster adoption; (iii) differences in technological regimes across industries also play a role in the diffusion process; and (iv) demand uncertainty increases the likelihood of adoption of FPTs.Technology Adoption, Uncertainty, Probit Model,

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