The scientific approach is full of paradoxes. Our need for (more) certainty (knowledge) and control is also greatest where our lack of insight is also greatest. And that is precisely in economics, education, and the social sciences. Usually it isn 't in natural science. Pointing out the unscientific nature of econometrics (models only work if nothing really changes, which of course is never the case) is too easy, certainly from the ivory tower of the natural sciences. In the meantime, physics has proven that more insight certainly does not always lead to wiser action and a better world...
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This study focuses on SME networks of design and high-tech companies in Southeast Netherland. By highlighting the personal networks of members across design and high-tech industries, the study attempts to identify the main brokers in this dynamic environment. In addition, we investigate whether specific characteristics are associated with these brokers. The main contribution of the paper lies in the fact that, in contrast to most other work, it is quantitative and that it focuses on brokers identified in an actual network (based on both suppliers and users of the knowledge infrastructure). Studying the phenomenon of brokerage provides us with clear insights into the concept of brokerage regarding SME networks in different fields. In particular we highlight how third parties contribute to the transfer and development of knowledge. Empirical results show, among others that the most influential brokers are found in the nonprofit and science sector and have a long track record in their branch.
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Vast empirical evidence underscores that exporting firms are more productive than non-exporters. As governments accordingly pursue export-promoting policies we are interested in the firmness of these conclusions with respect to African small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the influence of the destination of export trade. Using a micro-panel dataset from five African countries we confirm the self-selection. We apply propensity scores to match exporters and use a difference-in-difference methodology to test if African SMEs experience productivity gains because of export participation. Results indicate that African firms significantly learn-by-exporting. Manufacturers obtain significant performance improvements due to internationalization although this effect is moderated by export destination. Firms that export outside Africa become more capital intensive and at the same time hire more workers. In contrast we find evidence that exporters within the African region significantly downsize in capital intensity. Results regarding skill-bias of internationally active firms are mixed, where exporters within the region expand in size and hire more relatively unskilled workers.
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Preprint submitted to Information Processing & Management Tags are a convenient way to label resources on the web. An interesting question is whether one can determine the semantic meaning of tags in the absence of some predefined formal structure like a thesaurus. Many authors have used the usage data for tags to find their emergent semantics. Here, we argue that the semantics of tags can be captured by comparing the contexts in which tags appear. We give an approach to operationalizing this idea by defining what we call paradigmatic similarity: computing co-occurrence distributions of tags with tags in the same context, and comparing tags using information theoretic similarity measures of these distributions, mostly the Jensen-Shannon divergence. In experiments with three different tagged data collections we study its behavior and compare it to other distance measures. For some tasks, like terminology mapping or clustering, the paradigmatic similarity seems to give better results than similarity measures based on the co-occurrence of the documents or other resources that the tags are associated to. We argue that paradigmatic similarity, is superior to other distance measures, if agreement on topics (as opposed to style, register or language etc.), is the most important criterion, and the main differences between the tagged elements in the data set correspond to different topics
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Purpose: Whereas investments in new attractions continue to rise within the theme park industry, knowledge regarding the effects of new attractions on theme park performance and attendance remains scarce. In order to isolate these effects, the purpose of this paper is to present the results of an econometric study explaining the variance in theme park visitor numbers and quantifying the effects of new attractions on theme park attendance. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on an econometric study, in which models were produced for four European theme parks. No pooled modelling was used, meaning that four different models were created; one for each participating theme park. Various variables affecting theme park attendance were identified and quantified, and subsequently the effects of new attractions on visitor numbers were isolated. Findings: Findings indicate that all new attractions opened at Park D during the research period have had a positive long-term influence on attendance. This positive influence lasted for no more than two years. No significant short-term influence was found. There were significant differences in effect between new attractions which could not yet be explained. Research limitations/implications: The research by design only takes into account the economic effects of new attractions and disregards all environmental and socio-cultural effects. Even though the research provides an accurate approximation of the effects of new attractions on attendance, this effect should, according to the author, not be perceived as a stand-alone effect yet as a part of a complex system. A situational approach taking into account several other situational as well as qualitative factors would do the complex reality more justice than a, even though effective, simplified and general approach. Practical implications: Industry operators can now use the econometric model presented in this paper to determine the effects of new attractions on their theme park's attendance and use this knowledge to further fine-tune their investment policy. Originality/value: The paper presents the first econometric model successful at isolating and quantifying a new attraction's effect on theme park attendance and can thus be a valuable tool in perfecting one's investment policy. The paper furthermore includes a brief introduction to a situational approach of determining a new attraction's effects on theme park performance.
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Conclusion and general discussion regarding brokers in the SME network across Design and High-tech industries
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It is well-documented that international enterprises are more productive. Only few studies have explored the effect of internationalization on productivity and innovation at the firm-level. Using propensity score matching we analyze the causal effects of internationalization on innovation in 10 transition economies. We distinguish between three types of internationalization: exporting, FDI, and international outsourcing. We find that internationalization causes higher levels of innovation. More specifically, we show that (i) exporting results in more R&D, higher sales from product innovation, and an increase in the number of international patents (ii) outward FDI increases R&D and international patents (iii) international outsourcing leads to higher sales from product innovation. The paper provides empirical support to the theoretical literature on heterogeneous firms in international trade that argues that middle income countries gain from trade liberalization through increases in firm productivity and innovative capabilities.
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Bij Vroeg Eropaf zoekt de gemeente contact met inwoners over wie een betaalachterstand is gemeld om hulp aan te bieden. Onderzoekers van Bureau Bartels, Verwey-Jonker Instituut, Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek en Hogeschool Utrecht hebben samen met de Gemeente Amsterdam de Vroeg Eropaf-aanpak in Amsterdam tegen het licht gehouden: wat werkt? Wat zijn volgens dit onderzoek succesfactoren van de Vroeg Eropaf-aanpak? - Het outreachend werken/proactief benaderen van inwoners met betaalachterstanden. Dus: niet wachten tot inwoners zelf op zoek gaan naar hulp. - Combineren van meerdere vormen van communicatie (‘gecombineerde aanpak’). Dus: benaderen van inwoners via huisbezoek, telefoon, e-mail, WhatsApp, en alle andere manieren die je kunt bedenken. - Duidelijk en eerlijk zijn over mogelijke dienstverlening. Dus: verwachtingsmanagement. - Maken van écht contact. Dus: luisteren naar de inwoner en horen welke vragen, twijfels, angsten of oplossingen de inwoner heeft.
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This study examines completion rate for a self-assessment survey designed to assess employees' digital skills levels in the workplace. The aim is to improve data quality by investigating completion of the survey. The study reviews the theoretical background related to self-assessment surveys and completion rate, and explores the influence of survey length and format in survey design on completion rate. The research design and data analysis are described in detail, with a focus on identifying factors that may influence completion rate. Results suggest that survey designers should consider using Likert scales to optimize completion rate and completion time. However, this study did not find a significant increase in completion rate as a result of motivation, which was claimed from the literature. The study concludes with implications for the design and implementation of self-assessment surveys in the workplace, including the importance of reducing length and complexity of survey items and questions.
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