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Innovation and job quality. A firm-level exploration

Author

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  • Grande, Rafael
  • Muñoz de Bustillo, Rafael
  • Fernández Macías, Enrique
  • Antón, José Ignacio

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relation between innovation and job quality at the firm level for a large sample of companies in 32 European countries. Using data from the Third European Company Survey (ECS-2013) we develop indices of innovation and job quality that are later used to quantitatively explore their relationship. The results show significant differences in the relationship between the type of innovation (process, product, marketing and organizational) at the firm level and job quality, with a clear positive association only in the case of process innovation. Labor relations, the evolution of employment, outsourcing or the demographic characteristics of firm are important mediating factors. In particular, the analysis suggests that union representation plays an important role in facilitating the translation of innovation into higher job quality in the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Grande, Rafael & Muñoz de Bustillo, Rafael & Fernández Macías, Enrique & Antón, José Ignacio, 2020. "Innovation and job quality. A firm-level exploration," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 130-142.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:54:y:2020:i:c:p:130-142
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2020.04.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Eissa, Yasmine & Zaki, Chahir, 2025. "Leveraging global value chains for innovation: the case of SMEs," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
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    4. José-Ignacio Antón & Rafael Grande & Rafael Muñoz de Bustillo & Fernando Pinto, 2023. "Gender Gaps in Working Conditions," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 166(1), pages 53-83, February.
    5. Malo Mofakhami, 2022. "Is Innovation Good for European Workers? Beyond the Employment Destruction/Creation Effects, Technology Adoption Affects the Working Conditions of European Workers," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2386-2430, September.
    6. Bin Xiong & Baocheng Yu, 2024. "The Impact of Internet Development on Youth’s Job Quality in the Digital Economy Era: Transmission Mechanism and Empirical Test," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 269-294, October.
    7. Pianta, Mario & Reljic, Jelena, 2021. "Employment quality, economic performance and wages in Europe. Exploring the virtuous circle," MPRA Paper 109797, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Janine Berg & Francis Green & Laura Nurski & David A Spencer, 2023. "Risks to job quality from digital technologies: Are industrial relations in Europe ready for the challenge?," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(4), pages 347-365, December.
    9. Mario Pianta & Jelena Reljic, 2022. "The good jobs-high innovation virtuous circle," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(3), pages 783-811, October.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J53 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Labor-Management Relations; Industrial Jurisprudence
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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