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Does the Mobility of R & D Labor Increase Innovation?

Author

Listed:
  • Ulrich Kaiser

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Zurich)

  • Hans Christian Kongsted

    (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Thomas Ronde

    (Business School, Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics, Frederiksberg)

Abstract

We investigate the effect of mobility of highly skilled workers in Denmark on the total patenting activity of the firms involved for the population of R&D active Danish firms observed between 1999 and 2004. Our study documents how workers joining increase firms patenting activity. The effect is strongest if workers join from patent-active firms. We also find evidence of a positive feedback effect on patenting from workers who have left for another patent-active firm. Summing up the effects of joining and leaving workers, we show that labor mobility increases the total innovative activity of the new and the old employer. Our study thus provides firm-level support for the notion that labor mobility stimulates overall innovation of a country or region.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrich Kaiser & Hans Christian Kongsted & Thomas Ronde, 2013. "Does the Mobility of R & D Labor Increase Innovation?," Working Papers 336, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    • Handle: RePEc:zrh:wpaper:336
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labor mobility; innovation; research and development; patent;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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