The nexus between innovation and wellbeing across the EU space: What role for urbanisation?

Urban Studies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Lenzi ◽  
Giovanni Perucca

The importance of innovation for economic performance and competitiveness, whatever the level of analysis adopted, is uncontroversial. Yet little is known about the relationship between innovation and (subjective) wellbeing. This paper empirically studies this issue in a spatial perspective by arguing that the expected positive link between innovation and wellbeing can be even more complex than might be thought, and by testing the expectation that this relationship varies according to the different types of innovation and spatial setting considered. The analysis takes advantage of regionalised data sets at the EU level on wellbeing derived from various waves of Eurobarometer surveys in the period 2007–2011, and on regionalised patents and trademarks, thus merging individual and regional data. The results indicate that different types of innovation have different impacts on wellbeing across space. Technology-intensive innovation, such as patents, yields its benefits only in the most urbanised regions, while the impact of less technology-intensive innovation, such as trademarks, is undifferentiated across space. Spatial spillover effects also play an important role for individual wellbeing, regardless of the type of innovation and the degree of urbanisation of a region. Some reflections on regional innovation policies are finally proposed and discussed with reference to the current debate on place-based regional policies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Marek Zinecker ◽  
Karel Doubravský ◽  
Adam P. Balcerzak ◽  
Michał Bernard Pietrzak ◽  
Mirko Dohnal

This study aims to understand how Covid-19 contagious disease and the EU’s policy response may affect macroeconomic performance. Previous studies on this topic have used historical data sets on “rare macroeconomic disasters” such as Great Influenza to assess the impact of the current pandemic on the global economy. The authors examine the main channels of transmission and targeted policy response to mitigate crisis qualitatively. The authors use heuristics and apply qualitative trend-based analysis because the current pandemic is a unique event for which accurate quantitative data are not currently available. Researchers first identify a set of eight variables based on previous academic theories. They then express each variable as a trend: ascending, descending, and constant. The numerical calculations consist of 17 scenarios, supplemented by 24 transitions and a transition graph. Besides, the article proposes a graphical solution to examine the change in GDP that is too small. The results of the study should be understood as a reference point to allow both private and public stakeholders to understand better the relationship between the observed variables and their dynamics. The research provides a comprehensive list of future events to examine further the implications for the economy as a whole and each individual.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 335-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Díaz Dapena ◽  
Fernando Rubiera-Morollon ◽  
Dusan Paredes

The β-convergence model is based on the neoclassical framework in which the spatial level of analysis is not relevant. These levels will result in decreasing returns. However, local processes of agglomeration, spillover effects, or other forces could operate differently depending on the level of spatial disaggregation. The primary objective of this article is to observe whether different local, regional, and national convergence behaviors are possible in the European Union (EU). To capture the differences among spatial scales, a multilevel and spatial effects extension of the Solow–Swan theoretical growth model is proposed. The estimations of this model are made using consistent information from Eurostat and Cambridge Econometrics for the period of 2000–2014. A multilevel spatial Durbin model estimator is applied to evaluate the spatial interactions of the regions. The results indicate that a general process of convergence in the EU coexists with intranational processes of divergence, highlighting the relevance of the spatial level of analysis. A final analysis of the impact of the economic crisis over the general behavior has been included verifying that the economic crisis strongly reinforce the weakness of the EU convergence.


Author(s):  
Dieter Grimm

This chapter examines the democratic costs of constitutionalization by focusing on the European case. It first considers the interdependence of democracy and constitutionalism before discussing how constitutionalization can put democracy at risk. It then explores the tension between democracy and fundamental rights, the constitutionalization of the European treaties, and the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) two separate judgments regarding the relationship between European law and national law. It also assesses the impact of the ECJ’s jurisprudence on democracy, especially in the area of economic integration. The chapter argues that the legitimacy problem the EU faces is caused in part by over-constitutionalization and that the remedy to this problem is re-politicization of decisions with significant political implications.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdinando Ofria ◽  
Massimo Mucciardi

PurposeThe purpose is to analyze the spatially varying impacts of corruption and public debt as % of GDP (proxies of government failures) on non-performing loans (NPLs) in European countries; comparing two periods: one prior to the crisis of 2007 and another one after that. The authors first modeled the NPLs with an ordinary lest square (OLS) regression and found clear evidence of spatial instability in the distribution of the residuals. As a second step, the authors utilized the geographically weighted regression (GWR) to explore regional variations in the relationship between NPLs and the proxies of “Government failures”.Design/methodology/approachThe authors first modeled the NPL with an OLS regression and found clear evidence of spatial instability in the distribution of the residuals. As a second step, the author utilized the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) (Fotheringham et al., 2002) to explore regional variations in the relationship between NPLs and proxies of “Government failures” (corruption and public debt as % of GDP).FindingsThe results confirm that corruption and public debt as % of GDP, after the crisis of 2007, have affected significantly on NPLs of the EU countries and the following countries neighboring the EU: Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Montenegro, and Turkey.Originality/valueIn a spatial prospective, unprecedented in the literature, this research focused on the impact of corruption and public debt as % of GDP on NPLs in European countries. The positive correlation, as expected, between public debt and NPLs highlights that fiscal problems in Eurozone countries have led to an important rise of problem loans. The impact of institutional corruption on NPLs reports that the higher the corruption, the higher is the level of NPLs.


Author(s):  
R. Tamara Konetzka ◽  
Hari Sharma ◽  
Jeongyoung Park

An ongoing concern about medical malpractice litigation is that it may induce provider exit, potentially affecting consumer welfare. The nursing home sector is subject to substantial litigation activity but remains generally understudied in terms of the effects of litigation, due perhaps to a paucity of readily available data. In this article, we estimate the association between litigation and nursing home exit (closure or change in ownership), separating the impact of malpractice environment from direct litigation. We use 2 main data sources for this study: Westlaw’s Adverse Filings database (1997-2005) and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting data sets (1997-2005). We use probit models with state and year fixed effects to examine the relationship between litigation and the probability of nursing home closure or change in ownership with and without adjustment for malpractice environment. We examine the relationship on average and also stratify by profit status, chain membership, and market competition. We find that direct litigation against a nursing home has a nonsignificant effect on the probability of closure or change in ownership within the subsequent 2 years. In contrast, the broader malpractice environment has a significant effect on change in ownership, even for nursing homes that have not been sued, but not on closure. Effects are stronger among for-profit and chain facilities and those in more competitive markets. A high-risk malpractice environment is associated with change of ownership of nursing homes regardless of whether they have been directly sued, indicating that it is too blunt an instrument for weeding out low-quality nursing homes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel Harding ◽  
Ken T. Trotman

SUMMARY: Auditing standards require auditors to assess the competence of their colleagues. However, previous studies have shown that auditors' assessments of their colleagues' competence are inaccurate and overconfident, potentially leading to a reduction in audit effectiveness. In two related studies, we investigate both the process by which these assessments are made and a potential intervention aimed at improving these judgments. In study 1, we investigate the anchors used by senior auditors in assessing the competence of their subordinates and peers, and find that the anchors vary depending on the familiarity of the audit senior with their colleague. These findings inform study 2, which investigates the impact of different types of outcome feedback on auditors' assessments of another auditor's competence. We find that the effects of individual-specific feedback and average-group feedback will be contingent on the nature of the relationship between the assessor and assessee. Specifically, individual-specific outcome feedback is effective in reducing overconfidence when assessing the competence of a colleague with whom the assessor has previously worked, but not an unfamiliar colleague. When assessing the competence of an unfamiliar colleague, we find that average-group outcome feedback is effective in reducing overconfidence. Our results complement and extend earlier theory by showing that individuals, in assessing a colleague's competence, use anchors in addition to the competence of the assessor.


1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-114
Author(s):  
Pauline Roberts ◽  
Lucy Vickers

In 1996–97 there were a number of significant decisions which extended the scope of employers' liability for sexual and racial harassment at work, based upon the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976. This article seeks to analyse the impact of these recent cases. It began by considering the relationship between the concepts of ‘harassment’ and ‘discrimination’ and the problems inherent in using the anti-discrimination legislation to deal with harassment and bullying at work; we then focus on the recently demonstrated ‘purposive’ approach of the Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal in interpreting the statutes and consider how this combats the weaknesses identified. Alternative forms of relief will be briefly considered, in particular the recently enacted Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The authors, while welcoming the recent decisions, argue that there are some victims of bullying who remain outside the protection of the existing anti-discrimination legislation (as they do not fall within any of the groups identified for protection), notwithstanding the robust advances of the EAT. We suggest that the Protection from Harassment Act may not completely fill this gap.


Author(s):  
Tianwei Geng ◽  
Hai Chen ◽  
Di Liu ◽  
Qinqin Shi ◽  
Hang Zhang

Exploring and analyzing the common demands and behavioral responses of different stakeholders is important for revealing the mediating mechanisms of ecosystem service (ES) and realizing the management and sustainable supply of ES. This study took Mizhi County, a poverty-stricken area on the Loess Plateau in China, as an example. First, the main stakeholders, common demands, and behavioral responses in the food provision services were identified. Second, the relationship among stakeholders was analyzed. Finally, this study summarized three types of mediating mechanisms of food provision services and analyzed the influence of the different types of mediating mechanisms. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Five main stakeholders in the study area were identified: government, farmers, enterprises, cooperatives, and middlemen. (2) Increasing farmers’ income is the common demand of most stakeholders in the study area, and this common demand has different effects on the behavioral responses of different stakeholders. (3) There are three types of mediating mechanisms in the study area: government + farmers mediating corn and mutton, government + enterprises mediating millet, and government + cooperatives mediating apples. On this basis, the effects of the different types of mediating mechanisms on variations in food yield, and trade-offs and synergies in typical townships, were analyzed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
ALENA ANDREJOVSKÁ ◽  
VERONIKA KONEČNÁ ◽  
JANA HAKALOVÁ

VAT is one of the most decisive tax revenues sources in the EU Member States. Due to financial frauds and insufficient tax system, there is a billion loss of EUR every year in the European budget. The article deals with the impact of the tax evasion on economies of the EU Member States. By applying the top-down approach, we observed tax gaps as a quantifier of tax evasion from 2004 to 2017. The period around the economic crisis in 2009 was examined in more detail, as there was a sharp change in the evolution of tax gaps. We constructed a regression model, which examined the relationship of the tax gap and VAT tax revenues to selected determinants of tax evasion. The results showed that tax gaps in the Member States have been growing every year. We also found that there is an increase in tax revenues, but tax liabilities increase to greater extent.


REGION ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-81
Author(s):  
Rucha Vadia ◽  
Katharina Blankart

We investigated the role of external funding in cardiovascular device innovation across 31 countries in Europe. We rely on the knowledge production function (KPF) framework that establishes the knowledge output of a region as a function of innovatory effort and other characteristics of that region. In a cross-sectional analysis, we investigated regional variation in knowledge production by the number of publications in cardiovascular device research obtained from the bibliometric data of the world’s largest biomedical library, the US National Library of Medicine, 2014‒2017. We mapped these publications to product categories of medical devices approved for cardiovascular diseases by the US Food and Drug Administration. Considering spatial correlation across regions of Europe in our estimates of the KPF, we investigated the impact of two types of funding mechanisms: grants reported in the publications and the volume of European Union Horizon 2020 funding received by the innovating regions. We obtained 123,487 cardiovascular device-related publications distributed across 1,051 (75% of total) regions (NUTS-3 level). Receiving external funding strongly contributes to a region’s knowledge output. The estimated elasticities of innovatory effort range between 0.51 and 0.64. These estimates were consistently larger than the elasticities of other characteristics in the region measured by gross domestic product (0.14‒0.56). We also documented spillover effects from neighboring regions when the funding was measured by the grants reported in the publications, concluding that innovatory efforts in the form of external research investments are effective for promoting innovation in the medical device industry at the regional level.


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