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Do Local Knowledge Spillovers Matter for Development? An Empirical Study of Uruguay's Software Cluster

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  • Kesidou, Effie
  • Romijn, Henny

Abstract

Summary In economically advanced countries, local knowledge spillovers (LKS) between agglomerated firms are seen as major drivers of regional innovation and growth. In contrast, innovation research focusing on developing countries has emphasized international linkages, and has largely neglected LKS. This paper assesses the importance of LKS for innovation of clustered firms in a developing-country setting. An econometric analysis with new survey data from software firms in Montevideo, Uruguay, shows that LKS have a significantly positive impact on firms' innovation performance through labor mobility, company spin-offs, and informal interactions among actors. LKS are also shown to be highly important relative to other sources of knowledge.

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  • Kesidou, Effie & Romijn, Henny, 2008. "Do Local Knowledge Spillovers Matter for Development? An Empirical Study of Uruguay's Software Cluster," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 2004-2028, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:36:y:2008:i:10:p:2004-2028
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    6. Howell, Anthony, 2018. "Innovation and Firm Performance in the People’s Republic of China: A Structural Approach with Spillovers," ADBI Working Papers 805, Asian Development Bank Institute.
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    10. Maldonado, Mauricio & Noronha Vaz, Teresa, 2015. "Knowledge Spillovers Within The Algarve Tourism Region. Evidence To Identify A Regional Innovation System," Spatial and Organizational Dynamics Discussion Papers 2015-4, CIEO-Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, University of Algarve.
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    12. Ewert P. J. Kleynhans & Sibulele Zwedala, 2012. "The Contribution of FDI, Technology and R&D to Spillovers in Industrial Development: A South African Firm-Level Investigation," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 10(4 (Winter), pages 341-359.
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    15. Jarrín-V, Pablo & Falconí, Fander & Cango, Pedro & Ramos-Martin, Jesus, 2021. "Knowledge gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean and economic development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
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    17. Basant, Rakesh & Chandra, Pankaj & Upadhyayula, Rajesh, 2011. "Knowledge Flows and Capability Building in the Indian IT Sector: A Comparative Analysis of Cluster and Non-Cluster Locations," IIMA Working Papers WP2011-10-02, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    18. Aiqi Wu & Cassandra C. Wang & Shengxiao Li, 2015. "Geographical knowledge search, internal R&D intensity and product innovation of clustering firms in Zhejiang, China," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(3), pages 553-572, August.
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