Our press review features the latest publications by UNU-MERIT and its School of Governance, as well as mentions in the media. Output for January consists of four working papers, one policy brief, one book and one book chapter. These cover quality innovation for development, international migration trends, sustainable energy transition, R&D effects on firm growth and user-based innovation, among various other topics.
‘User innovators and their influence on innovation activities of firms in Finland’ is based on an update to the Finnish Community Innovation Survey (CIS) for 2010. According to this working paper, firms that put a premium on user developed products are more likely to generate new to the market product innovations. These firms are also more active in all ways of engaging in product innovation covered in the CIS. The paper goes on to address the wider policy implications, as well as the need to confirm the findings in other countries. By Prof. Fred Gault et al.
‘Diverse and uneven pathways towards transition to low carbon development: The case of diffusion of solar photovoltaic technology in China’ reviews the literature on sustainable transitions. This working paper adopts a systemic perspective to clarify the transition process in developing countries via the lens of existing frameworks. The author presents the case of photovoltaics in China, concluding with suggestions for further research in sustainable transition. By Dr. Michiko Iizuka.
‘Migration, remittances and household welfare in Ethiopia’ investigates the effect of international remittances and migration on household welfare in Ethiopia, using both subjective measures (perception of economic well-being) and objective measures (assets) to define household welfare. By analysing data before and after households began receiving remittances, this working paper sheds light on changes in welfare linked to international migration and remittances. Results show that remittances have a significant impact on a welfare variable that has previously received little attention in the migration literature, namely household subjective economic well-being. The study also finds that remittances have positive effects on consumer asset accumulation, especially in rural areas, but no effect on productive assets. By affiliated researcher Lisa Andersson.
‘Shattered Dreams and Return of Vulnerability: Challenges of Ethiopian Female Migration to the Middle East’ focuses on the unprecedented rise in Ethiopian female migration to the Middle East, and examines the challenges and policy implications emerging from this migration flow. This policy brief is based on interviews with migrant brokers, key stakeholders and domestic worker returnees in Addis Ababa (all survey data collected for the IS Academy on Migration and Development project from February to April 2011). The brief gives four recommendations for international governments and organisations: i) to work with the Ethiopian government on regulating irregular migration, ii) to increase access to information, iii) to provide assistance in countries of migration, and iv) to provide more reintegration support. By PhD fellow Katherine Kuschminder.
‘The medium-term effect of R&D on firm growth’ examines the relation between R&D expenditure and firm medium-term growth. This working paper uses four cross-sectional waves of an innovation survey conducted in the Netherlands to assess the effects on firm employment growth in the five years following the investment. The analysis shows that R&D expenditure exerts a positive influence on firm employment in the medium-term (five years after the investment). However, the influence appears only when considering fixed effects methods, which allow for firm idiosyncracies in the firm growth process. The economic implication is that R&D intensity does not explain performance differences across firms, but explains, instead, changes along time of the performance of a given firm. By Prof. Bart Verspagen et al.
‘Methodology to Identify Opportunities for Development-Oriented Quality Innovation: Application in the Case of Least Developed Countries’ is a book chapter in Quality Innovation: Knowledge, Theory, and Practices edited by Latif Al-Hakim and Chen Jin. This chapter aims to discuss some of the developmental aspects of innovation, present a methodology to identify such opportunities for development-oriented quality innovation, and illustrate its application in the context of least developed countries. By PhD fellow Clovis Freire Junior.
The Age of Migration provides a comprehensive assessment of the nature, extent and dimensions of international population movements and of their consequences. The book, a thoroughly revised and updated fifth edition, assesses the impact of the global economic crisis for migration and includes new material on climate change and migration. By Prof. Hein de Haas et al.
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