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The relevance of personal characteristics and gender diversity for (eco)-innovation activities at the firm-level : Results from a linked employer-employee database in Germany

Author

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  • Horbach, Jens

    (Augsburg University of Applied Sciences)

  • Jacob, Jojo

    (Grenoble Ecole de Management and UNU-Merit)

Abstract

"Up to now, the growing literature on the determinants of eco-innovation has not considered the influence of personal characteristics of the employees of a firm. The existing econometric analyses show much 'noise' explaining the driving forces of ecoinnovation. The paper tries to open the 'black box' of unexplained heterogeneity. In fact, latent variables such as the greenness of a firm may be explained by the personal characteristics (gender, family status, geographical origin, education etc.) of the staff and the decision makers in a firm. The linked employer-employee database of the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Germany allows such an analysis based on data for 2010 and 2012. The results of an econometric analysis show that a high share of high qualified women and a mixed gender composition of the management board are positively correlated to eco-innovation activities. Furthermore, the results confirm that export-oriented firms are more likely to innovate, firms characterized by an over-aging of the staff innovate less and a higher competition pressure leads to more innovations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Horbach, Jens & Jacob, Jojo, 2017. "The relevance of personal characteristics and gender diversity for (eco)-innovation activities at the firm-level : Results from a linked employer-employee database in Germany," IAB-Discussion Paper 201711, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabdpa:201711
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    5. Grashof, Nils, 2020. "Putting the watering can away Towards a targeted (problem-oriented) cluster policy framework," Papers in Innovation Studies 2020/4, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
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    9. Susanne Bührer & Evanthia Kalpazidou Schmidt & Rachel Palmén & Sybille Reidl, 2020. "Evaluating gender equality effects in research and innovation systems," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(2), pages 1459-1475, November.
    10. Alfonso Carfora & Giuseppe Scandurra & Antonio Thomas, 2021. "Determinants of environmental innovations supporting small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2621-2636, July.
    11. Horbach, Jens & Rammer, Christian, 2018. "Energy transition in Germany and regional spill-overs: The diffusion of renewable energy in firms," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 404-414.
    12. Bührer, Susanne & Wroblewski, Angela, 2019. "The practice and perceptions of RRI—A gender perspective," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    13. María del Carmen Galera-Quiles & Laura Piedra-Muñoz & Emilio Galdeano-Gómez & Angel Carreño-Ortega, 2021. "A Review of Eco-Innovations and Exports Interrelationship, with Special Reference to International Agrifood Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-21, January.
    14. Xiaoping He & Shuo Jiang, 2019. "Does gender diversity matter for green innovation?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(7), pages 1341-1356, November.
    15. Ricky Y. K. Chan, 2021. "Do chief information officers matter for sustainable development? Impact of their regulatory focus on green information technology strategies and corporate performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2523-2534, July.
    16. Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez & Isabel Gallego‐Álvarez & José‐Luis Zafra‐Gómez, 2021. "Do independent, female and specialist directors promote eco‐innovation and eco‐design in agri‐food firms?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1136-1152, February.
    17. Yingjie Hao & Congcong Fan & Yunguang Long & Jieyi Pan, 2019. "The role of returnee executives in improving green innovation performance of Chinese manufacturing enterprises: Implications for sustainable development strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 804-818, July.
    18. Fernanda Q. Sperotto & Iván G. P. Tartaruga, 2021. "The Green Side of Industry: The Drivers and the Impacts of ECO-Innovations in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-23, July.
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    Keywords

    Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Einstellungen ; erwerbstätige Frauen ; Export ; Führungskräfte ; Geschlechterverteilung ; geschlechtsspezifische Faktoren ; IAB-Linked-Employer-Employee-Datensatz ; Innovation ; Mitarbeiter ; Persönlichkeitsmerkmale ; Qualifikationsmerkmale ; Qualifikationsstruktur ; Teamarbeit ; Umweltbewusstsein ; Umweltschutz ; 2010-2012;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C35 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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