This press review features the latest publications by UNU-MERIT and its School of Governance, from working papers to policy reports to books, as well as mentions in the media.
Our output for September includes two journal articles, two working papers, a study report, a policy network paper, a conference paper, a book chapter, a book and a research report for the European Commission. We cover knowledge transfer across Europe, industrial growth in Chinese regions, capability building in developing countries, and migration across four continents.
The ‘European Knowledge Transfer Report 2013’ presents findings from a monitoring study on the EU’s 2008 Recommendation and Code of Practice on the management of intellectual property (IP) in knowledge transfer activities. The study found an average implementation rate of 53 per cent, but also demonstrated major differences between European countries. The authors recommend EU support for developing strategies and IP management procedures. By Professor Anthony Arundel, researcher Nordine Es-Sadki et al.
‘Eliciting illegal migration rates through list randomization’ applies the method of list randomization to surveys conducted in Ethiopia, Mexico, Morocco and the Philippines on the legal status of migrants. The study looks at the method’s pros and cons and suggests future ways to implement migration surveys. By Assistant Professor Melissa Siegel et al.
‘Diaspora Engagement in Development: An Analysis of the Engagement of the Tunisian Diaspora in Germany and the Potentials for Cooperation’ considers Tunisian organizations and associations in Germany in the context of the Arab Spring. Commissioned by the German Development Agency (GIZ), the study found that the spirit of the Arab Spring not only influenced Tunisian society in Tunisia but also Tunisians living abroad, giving them, especially among the younger generation, a stronger sense of connection to their country of origin and a new motivation to help shape its future. The study identified new and constructive means of cooperation with institutions of the German Development Cooperation. By Assistant Professor Melissa Siegel, researcher Elaine McGregor et al.
‘Moving Beyond Conflict: Re-framing mobility in the African Great Lakes region’ examines how far crisis and conflict influence mobility in the African Great Lakes region. This working paper analyses migration linked to three underlying social processes in the Great Lakes region: education, urbanization, and family formation. Presenting a new analytical framework, the paper argues the case for a ‘life-course approach’ — viewing movement related to ‘key, transitional events’ during the span of a person’s life. By PhD fellow Ayla Bonfiglio et al.
‘Technological spillovers and industrial growth in Chinese regions’ focuses on the role of interregional technology spillovers in the process of industrial growth in Chinese regions (1990-2005). The working paper found that regional industrial growth benefits from both interregional R&D spillovers and since 1998 from international FDI spillovers. By Professor Adam Szirmai, senior researcher Huub Meijers and researcher Lili Wang.
‘Knowledge and technology transfer performance of European universities and research institutions: assessing the influence of institutional by-laws and practices’ looks at the impact of institutional by-laws and practices on knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) performance of universities and research institutions. With data from 224 European universities and 48 public research organizations, the paper finds that the only incentive for researchers which has a consistent positive effect on all outcome measures is to give inventors a share of the revenues. Non-monetary rewards such as career enhancement or social rewards have no effect. By Professor Anthony Arundel, researcher Nordine Es-Sadki et al.
‘A New Promise for Europe, How the elections to the European Parliament can stop Eurosion’ attempts to answer the social and economic aspirations of Europe’s citizens. The authors propose a new agenda to support individual countries in their reform efforts and argue that policy priorities should be characterized by more responsive democratic politics. This new policy network paper proposes to build this new agenda based on the pursuit of full employment, less inequality and greener policies. By Professor Jo Ritzen et al.
‘Diaspora Engagement and Policy in Ethiopia’ is one of 12 case studies featured in the book Emigration Nations. The book looks at the relationship between state institutions and emigrant nationals and the development of policies for emigrant engagement, aiming to encourage the loyalty of nationals who have made a permanent home elsewhere. It provides a theoretical framework to explain changing policies towards emigrants. By Assistant Professor Melissa Siegel, PhD fellow Katherine Kuschminder et al.
‘Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building Through the Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals to Afghanistan’ examines the effects of the diaspora on knowledge transfer and capacity building in a post-conflict environment. The article is based on a case study of the International Organization for Migration the Netherlands in which 59 highly skilled Dutch-Afghans returned to work with a host institution in Afghanistan for three months to transfer knowledge and build capacity. The study found that diaspora temporary returnees were most effective in tacit knowledge transfer and that the knowledge transfer process effectively led to capacity building in Afghanistan. By PhD fellow Katherine Kuschminder.
by Howard Hudson and Sueli Brodin, UNU-MERIT Communications Officers. Images: Flickr / Martijn de Visser, Malias, BASF and H.Hudson.
