Characteristics of the innovation activities of firms in Europe: a critical review of international differences

Abstract

A sample of 18 papers and 32 data sets revealed 210,404 firm level observations about European firms making decisions about innovation. A total of 66,965 observations describe activities of innovators between 1986 and 2008. This paper used a basic literature review to assess properties of innovation among quite rare full CDM (Crépon, Duguet, and Mairesse) papers. This study compared results from two systems of estimation and showed that both international and regional comparisons are rather problematic because of different definitions of innovation variables and data set representativeness. On average, a typical firm that engaged in innovation was a large firm competing in international markets in the sample of firms with 20+ employees. Smaller firms, however, invested more in research and development (R&D) and no linear relationship was found for output characteristics. Cooperation on R&D projects increased overall innovation intensity. There is strong evidence that public funding had an ambiguous effect on R&D spending and no additional effect on innovation output on average. This output measured by sales from innovated goods and services was on average in a positive relationship with labour productivity; however, a detailed view suggested this effect was present only in product innovation. In this paper, it is shown that results of innovation studies cannot be compared or used in research without deeper analysis of the data sample (micro companies, industries, active firms, entrants etc.), dependent variable (innovator, R&D expenditures, sales, productivity, new product, new service etc.) and the baseline company that is defined by independent variables.

Selected Issues from the Dark Side of the General Data Protection Regulation

“…The results of the performed estimation unambiguously point out that the GDPR expenses, especially for small and medium sized municipalities in the Czech Republic, have a massive impact. This matches the well established pattern that generally smaller private and public law subjects have a lower readiness to introduce and carry out innovative projects and modern technology measures (Vokoun, 2017). Namely, in the selected sample the expected share of the GDPR expense on the total revenue reaches from 0.06% to 7%.…”

“…Within the framework of the ten year long strategy Europe 2020, particularly the digital aspects and the technological potential of European economies (Balcerzak, 2016) and its dynamics between old and new member states (Balcerzak, 2015) and small, medium and large sized firms (Vokoun, 2017), the European Commission presented the Data Protection Reform Package. It demonstrates that the EU is well aware about the importance of corporate social responsibility (Pakšiová, 2016) and that, although openness-oriented policies are to be associated with growth (Iyke, 2017), human rights and freedom deserve serious consideration and protection vis-à-vis predatory, over liberal and advantage taking practices.…”

Industrial Innovation, Labour Productivity, Sales and Employment

“…Hall (2011) and its update Mohnen and Hall (2013) report for the majority of studies in their review that product innovations generate significant increases in labour productivity, while in only one study a negative effect on labour productivity is found. However, results are very difficult to compare due to differences in definitions and differences in representativeness of firms in the used data sets (Vokoun 2017). Hall (2011) also points to the fact that using dummy variables for product and process innovation may be a problem if the measure is related to the size of the firms: larger firms generally have a larger probability of being engaged in innovation just because they are larger and have more diversified products, and therefore the dummy may not be a proper indication of innovativeness.…”

The Processes of Managing Human Resources and Using Management Methods and Techniques in Management Practice

“…The study of Torres & Augusto (2017) is helpful as well discussing among others the strategic competences of managers and their decision-making leadership styles. Vokoun (2017) discusses the innovation competences of managers that are crucial for the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. Entrepreneurial competences are highlighted in the study by Kmecova (2017) where the author states that managersentrepreneurshave to have developed entrepreneurial competences that are crucial for entrepreneurial success.…”