Low Technological Intensity Research Articles

Determinants of silent and explicit industrial design

This paper investigates the relationship between the use of silent or explicit design (SD or ED) and the characteristics of firms or sectors that use each of these types of design in Argentina. The findings show that SD differs from ED and that the differences have important implications for the creation of policies to support competitiveness as well as for the development of business strategies. The study contributes to the literature by identifying three groups of dimensions. (1) Structural. Neither size nor barriers to the use of design bear relation to the use of design. (2) Dynamic. SD and ED have different effects on competitiveness based on the different links each type of design has with knowledge (particularly absorptive capacity and knowledge of new technology). (3) Technological intensity. Sectors with low technological intensity are identified as high-design intensity sectors, linked to the use of new technologies coming from others sectors.

INNOVATIVENESS OF BELARUSIAN ECONOMY THROUGH THE PRISM OF ITS COMPETITIVE POSITION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The main purpose of this study is to answer the question of how innovative Belarusian economy is. Its innovativeness has been assessed through an in-depth analysis of Belarus’ position in international trade, especially in high- and medium-high-technology goods, on the back of the assumption that any competitive advantages possessed in them testify to the economy’s high innovativeness. The analysis of the dynamics of long-term revealed comparative advantages in Belarusian foreign trade by using Balassa’s RCA methodology and covering the years 2000-2014, has shown that the country was generally characterized by low innovativeness, as evidenced by the possession of such advantages only in trade in goods of relatively low technological intensity (medium-low technology). Meanwhile, in hi-tech goods (high and medium-high technology), Belarus did not have any (or only had relatively small) long-term revealed comparative advantages. Moreover, Belarus’ competitiveness in international trade deteriorated over that period, not only regarding high and medium-high technology goods but also in foreign trade overall. This seems to be, amongst others, the consequence of low efficiency of the country’s current innovation policy.

The political economy of diagnosis-related groups

A well-established political economic literature has shown as multi-level governance affects the inefficiency of public expenditures. Yet, this expectation has not been empirically tested on health expenditures. We provide a political economy interpretation of the variation in the prices of 6 obstetric DRGs using Italy as a case study. Italy offers a unique institutional setting since its 21 regional governments can decide whether to adopt the national DRG system or to adjust/waive it. We investigate whether the composition and characteristics of regional governments do matter for the average DRG level and, if so, why. To address both questions, we first use a panel fixed effects model exploiting the results of 66 elections between 2000 and 2013 (i.e., 294 obs) to estimate the link between DRGs and the composition and characteristics of regional governments. Second, we investigate these results exploiting the implementation of a budget constraint policy through a difference-in-differences framework. The incidence of physicians in the regional government explains the variation of DRGs with low technological intensity, such as normal newborn, but not of those with high technological intensity, as severely premature newborn. We also observe a decrease in the average levels of DRGs after the budget constraint implementation, but the magnitude of this decrease depends primarily on the presence of physicians among politicians and the political alignment between the regional and the national government. To understand which kind of role the relevance of the political components plays (i.e., waste vs. better defined DRGs), we check whether any of the considered political economy variables have a positive impact on the quality of regional obstetric systems finding no effect. These results are a first evidence that a system of standardized prices, such as the DRGs, is not immune to political pressures.

<b>Avanços tecnológicos e ganhos de competitividade na indústria de transformação paranaense no período 2000-2012

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar os avanços tecnológicos da indústria de transformação paranaense a partir dos anos 2000. O trabalho argumenta que mudanças na indústria de transformação paranaense, a partir desse período, tiveram como determinantes os avanços tecnológicos. O referencial teórico utilizado foi a abordagem schumpeteriana sobre a inovação e seu impacto sobre a representatividade de cada grupo de intensidade tecnológica. Como procedimento metodológico, utilizou-se a coleta de dados sobre valor adicionado, emprego, pesquisa e desenvolvimento, os quais foram organizados em tabelas e gráficos para análises. Os resultados mostraram que o grupo de maior participação relativa foi o de baixa intensidade tecnológica, entre 2000 e 2012, devido à importância do setor primário, o qual compõe os setores de alimentos e bebidas, madeira e mobiliário, papel e celulose. Verificou-se, além disso, o aumento da representatividade do valor adicionado do grupo de média-alta intensidade tecnológica, o qual elevou sua participação relativa no período, com destaque para a indústria de veículos automotores, reboques e semirreboques, que foi o setor que mais contribuiu para as transformações ocorridas no Paraná.

The Political Economy of Diagnosis-Related Groups

We provide a political economy interpretation of the variations in the prices of 6 obstetric diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) using Italy as a case study. Italy provides a unique institutional setting since its 21 regional governments can decide to adopt the national DRG system or to adjust/waive it. Using a panel fixed effects model, we exploit the results of 66 electoral ballots between 2000 and 2013 to estimate how obstetric DRGs are affected by the composition and characteristics of regional governments. We find that the incidence of physicians among regional politicians explains variations in DRGs with low technological intensity, such as normal newborns, but not of those with high technological intensity, as severely premature newborns. We further investigate these results by exploiting the implementation of a budget constraint policy. Applying a difference-in-difference strategy, we observe a decrease in the average levels of DRGs after the implementation of the policy, but the magnitude of this decrease depends on the presence of physicians among politicians and the political alignment between the regional and the national government. Finally, we rely on patient data (6,500,000 infant deliveries) to assess whether any of the political economy variables have a positive impact on the quality of regional obstetric systems. We find no effect.

Types of Innovation in Low-Technology Firms of Emerging Markets: An Empirical Study in Brazilian Industry

Low-technology industry is still commonly regarded as an assistant role in the modern process of innovation and economic change. However, we believe that innovation may happen in all different types of industries and firms, including low-technology firms. The aim of this paper is to analyze the types of innovation in low-tech intensity industries of emerging markets. We conduct an exploratory study in 21 low-tech firms in Brazil. The results suggest that even firms with low technological intensity can be considered innovative, although they presented a different view regarding to changes, innovation and competitive differential. Considering that innovative performance is a result of four capabilities, the operational and transactional capabilities seem to be the most important for low-tech industry.

Evolução do grau de sofisticação das exportações brasileiras (2000-2013)

O objetivo do presente artigo é analisar a evolução do nível de sofisticação das exportações brasileiras, fazendo uso do índice de sofisticação proposto por Hausmann et al. (2007). Examina- se o grau de sofisticação das exportações brasileiras de forma desagregada, no período 2000 a 2013. O indicador de sofisticação calculado leva em conta também as disparidades existentes entre países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento, bem como as diferenças de qualidade dos produtos conforme sugerido por Xu (2010). Os resultados indicam que a sofisticação das exportações brasileiras vem se deteriorando ao longo dos anos, em especial no segmento de alta intensidade tecnológica. A análise desagregada constata algumas diferenças entre setores. O aumento de produtividade mais notável ocorreu no setor de bens primários, enquanto o comportamento mais estável se deu no segmento de baixa intensidade tecnológica, sendo que os demais setores apresentaram desempenho oscilatório, com tendência decrescente no período recente. Feito o ajustamento para a qualidade dos produtos, a ordenação entre os setores ficou mais evidente, ressaltando as diferenças tecnológicas e de qualidade entre eles. Os valores mínimos (máximos) de produtividade apresentaram expressiva(o) redução (aumento) nos dois grupos de países considerados. Também se constataram diferenças significativas entre os setores de países com distintos níveis de renda. Países em desenvolvimento mostram comportamento mais homogêneo do índice de sofisticação das exportações brasileiras entre os setores do que os desenvolvidos.

Misallocation and Total Factor Productivity in Italy: Evidence from Firm-Level Data

Over the last two decades, total factor productivity (TFP) in Italy decreased by 0.2% per year, while increasing on average in the Euro-area countries. This decline suggests the existence of large inefficiencies in the allocation of resources, making the Italian case particularly interesting and suitable in order to study the role of misallocation. In this paper, I quantify the within-industry misallocation of inputs in Italy over the period 1993{2011, by applying the Hsieh and Klenow's (2009) methodology. Using a micro-level longitudinal dataset of Italian manufacturing firms, I find that, in the hypothetical absence of distortions, aggregate TFP in manufacturing would be boosted by 58% in 1993, by 67% in 2006 and by 80% in 2011. This leads to a twofold conclusion: first, misallocation plays a crucial role in determining the inefficiency level of the Italian manufacturing sector; second, misallocation has increased over time. Given the magnitude of the results obtained and the policy implications related thereto, I take a step ahead by checking to what extent the degree of misallocation can be attributed to specific characteristics of the Italian firms: it emerges that misallocation is higher for firms located in the South and at low-technological intensity, as well as for small or young firms.

Intensidade Tecnológica das Exportações do Brasil e de Estados Selecionados (2000-2010)

Nowadays, there is an intense debate about the process of reprimarization of Brazilian exports and its effects on the economy. This paper aims at contributing to this debate, aiming at identifying the technological intensity of Brazilian and its main states exports, between 2000 and 2010, to its main destinations. The study is based on secondary and official data, provided by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC). The results show that in this period, despite the increase in total exports, there was a drop in the share of high and medium-high technological intensity products on total exports, with a concentration of exports on low technological intensity and primary products, corroborating the hypothesis of the continuation of reprimarization of exports, observed originally in de 1990s. This situation was also observed in all main export states. With regard the states export destination, there was a high share of commodities and low intensity products in total exports to China, while Mercosur showed a higher concentration on medium-high and high technological products.

Comparative environmental performance of artisanal and commercial feed use in Peruvian freshwater aquaculture

We used Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate some of the environmental implications of using commercial versus artisanal feeds in Peruvian freshwater aquaculture of trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), tilapia ( Oreochromis spp.) and black pacu ( Colossoma macropomum ). Several scenarios believed to be representative of current Peruvian aquaculture practices were modelled, namely: production of trout in Andean lake cages; and culture of black pacu and tilapia in Amazonian and coastal lowland ponds, respectively. In general, Peruvian aquaculture is characterised by low technological intensity practices. Use of commercial aquafeeds is widespread, but artisanal feeds are frequently used in certain small-scale farms. We found that trout feeds feature higher environmental burdens than do black pacu and tilapia feeds. A similar trend is observed for production of these species. Across species, the substitution of artisanal with commercial feeds, despite improving feed conversion ratios in all cases, does not always reduce overall environmental impacts. This is due to the additional energy use and transportation requirements associated with commercial feed inputs. The substitution of artisanal feeds with commercial ones generally increases environmental impacts of the fish farming systems for the specific feeds considered, despite enhanced FCRs and economies of scale. This is due to the higher environmental impacts associated to certain feed inputs used in commercial feeds, in particular highly refined feed inputs. Consequently, in light of the importance of feeds to overall life cycle impacts of aquaculture production, the Peruvian aquafeed industry should preferentially source less refined and, in general, less environmentally burdened feed inputs (e.g. Bolivian soybean products over Brazilian, high quality over lower quality fishmeal, avoiding protein concentrates, etc.), to the extent that fish farming performance (i.e. feed conversion efficiency and cost structure) is not strongly affected. Among species, black pacu aquaculture shows the best environmental performance. • Substitution of artisanal feeds with commercial ones increases environmental impacts. • Higher impacts are due to highly refined, energy-intensive feed inputs. • Sourcing of agricultural feed inputs affects environmental performance of feeds. • Prime instead of residual fishmeal should be used for artisanal feeds. • Black pacu aquaculture has better environmental performance than other species.

The impact of contextual factors on the efficacy of ISO 9000 adoption

This study investigates the importance of contextual factors on the efficacy of ISO 9000 adoption. We explore the role of various contextual factors at the firm-level (i.e., technology intensity, labor productivity, and labor intensity) and industry-level (i.e., industry efficiency level, industry competitiveness, industry sales growth, and industry ISO 9000 adoption level) that potentially impact the efficacy of ISO 9000 adoption. We carry out a hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analysis based on objective financial data from 438 U.S. manufacturing firms. The results show that firms with low technology intensity, low labor productivity and high labor intensity reap more benefit from ISO 9000 adoption. Firms in industries with low efficiency levels, high competition, high sales growth and low ISO 9000 adoption levels also obtain more benefit from the adoption. Our research provides supporting evidence for the context-dependent proposition of ISO 9000 adoption. Given the significant costs and resources involved, it is crucial for operations managers to assess to what extent ISO 9000 might benefit their performance before embarking on the implementation process.

O QUE DETERMINA A ROTATIVIDADE NO MERCADO DE TRABALHO BRASILEIRO?

As configurações ocorridas nas relações de produção e no mundo do trabalho a partir do final do século XX mantém forte semelhança ao modelo de crescimento econômico corrente. A precariedade do trabalho, pautada nas relações vulneráveis, tem se acentuado e

Avaliação da modernização da produção agrícola nas microrregiões do Nordeste brasileiro: classificação e agrupamento de indicadores

The Brazilian agriculture modernization process began in the mid 1960s. However, this process occurred differently in regions of the country, marked by profound transformation of the Mid-South region to which received most of the agricultural credit for producing of the main commodities of the agricultural export sector, and due to the concentration of subsistence and low added value of agriculture in the North and Northeast regions. In this context, this study aimed to verify what is the agriculture modernization level in Northeast microregions. For so, were selected 21 variables to analyze the modernization of agriculture in the 188 microregions of the Northeast and were held a factorial analyses and cluster. Broadly, the results indicated a large homogeneity of the region, characterized by a low technological intensity, calling attention to the need to formulation of policies that enhance the formulation of incentive projects that foster agricultural development, human capital training, use of production technology, creation and better use of rural credit, in order to definitely incorporate the Northeast to domestic production.

Efectos del cambio tecnológico en los mercados de trabajo regionales en México

El cambio tecnológico ha provocado que las organizaciones requieran trabajadores con mayor calificación para el desarrollo, implementación y adaptación de tecnología en aras de hacer frente a la competitividad internacional. El objetivo de este documento es analizar las transformaciones que se han presentado en los mercados de trabajo regionales en México en materia ocupacional y salarial e identificar en qué medida estas modificaciones pueden ser consecuencia del cambio tecnológico y si este comportamiento es homogéneo a nivel espacial. La fuente principal de información fueron los microdatos de la Encuesta Nacional de Empleo Urbano (eneu) 2000–2004. Los resultados del análisis empírico –que consideró trabajadores en actividades de alta y baja intensidad tecnológica y aplicó una función de ingreso minceriana con diferentes criterios de clasificación: educación, sexo, grupos de edad y regiones– indican que durante el periodo se han presentado modificaciones importantes en el mercado laboral mexicano como consecuencia del cambio tecnológico sesgado, ya que se aporta evidencia estadística que indica la existencia de un mayor premio salarial para los subordinados en el área tecnológica y efectos diferenciados a nivel regional, favoreciendo en mayor medida a la frontera.

O INTERCÂMBIO COMERCIAL BRASIL-CHINA: A QUESTÃO DAS VANTAGENS COMPARATIVAS

O objetivo deste trabalho é conhecer melhor as características do fluxo comercial entre Brasil e China. São analisados diversos aspectos das relações comerciais entre os dois países: mudança na estrutura, comércio intraindústria, intensidade tecnológica e aproveitamento de vantagens comparativas. O assunto é relevante tendo em vista a crescente importância da economia chinesa no cenário internacional e o crescimento do fluxo comercial verificado entre os dois países nas duas últimas décadas. Foram encontrados baixos índices de comércio intraindústria entre os dois países e baixa (alta) intensidade tecnológica nas exportações (importações) brasileiras. Os dados parecem mostrar uma tendência de especialização do comércio exterior brasileiro com a China. Com base na técnica de insumo produto, e considerando o modelo das proporções de fatores com três fatores de produção, é feita uma análise das intensidades fatoriais no comércio, a mesma mostra as exportações brasileiras como sendo mais intensivas em recursos naturais e as importações mais intensivas em capital, sendo que os bens intensivos em trabalho apresentaram baixa representatividade comercial entre os dois países. Assim os resultados parecem mostrar-se condizentes com os preceitos das vantagens comparativas caso, seja aceito o Brasil como sendo relativamente abundante em recursos naturais e relativamente escasso em capital, quando comparado com a China.

Las fuentes de la innovación y el papel de las instituciones en el sistema de innovación de un distrito industrial

In this article we analyse the shift that the textile-clothing sector has recently suffered in the Valencian Central Counties from the role played by the institutions of the local innovation system. This paper includes the main results derived from different research projects undertaken between 2004 and 2009. The analytical framework used is based on the innovation systems approach, which emphasizes not only the existence of organizations supporting the industry, but also their behavioural relationships. Thus, we identify the sources of innovation in an industry localized in a peripheral region with low technological intensity. This sector currently presents a structural adjustment process derived from the opening of international markets.

O PAPEL DA INOVAÇÃO NO PROCESSO DE INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO DE EMPRESAS BRASILEIRAS DO SETOR DE TECNOLOGIA DA INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO

The study aimed to examine the role of innovation in the internationalization of Brazilian companies that operate in the medium sector of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). To achieve this goal, we performed a descriptive qualitative research method used and how the study of multiple cases, which were researched in depth and Light Infocon and Digitro. The main results of the survey revealed companies with different trajectories of internationalization, but whose innovation activities are central to the entry and operations in foreign markets. The results also showed the importance of innovative cooperative activities through alliances with universities, research institutes and other companies, and government support through funding. An additional contribution of this work was the analysis of the internationalization process of Brazilian companies innovative medium-sized sectors with high technological content, since most studies on internationalization in Brazil focuses on large industrial enterprises already established for decades in the national and sectors with low technological intensity.

Spanish cities in the knowledge economy

The article begins with a critical review of the multiplication of concepts today regarding the interrelationships between knowledge and urban development. An overview is given of complementary perspectives, such as knowledge-based cities, learning cities, intelligent cities and creative cities, as the foundation for the proposal that there are four main channels whereby cities join the knowledge society: by innovation systems, by economic structure, by human capital and by networking. On this basis Spanish cities are subjected to a comparative analysis of their knowledge indicators in each of these four components. From the exploratory analysis it is concluded that a sizeable share of Spanish cities are not involved in the process of joining the knowledge society. The rest of the cities are observed to follow one of two contrasting trajectories: cities in metropolitan sectors that are highly prized socially and environmentally have strengthened the presence of knowledge-intensive services and highly qualified human resources, while medium-sized and small cities have specialized in industries of an average or low technological intensity but have made a considerable innovative effort. The text concludes with a reflection on the challenge for local stakeholders to use knowledge to improve the multiple dimensions of urban development.

Spatial effects in the productivity convergence of Spanish industrial SME's

ABSTRACTThis paper analyses the spatial effects influence on the convergence process in Spanish industrial SME's productivity. In order to do this: 1. We use an absolute convergence model considering the technological intensity of each sector; 2. From a statistical point of view, we determine the existence and composition of convergence clubs in productivity levels; 3. Finally, we test if the convergence clubs are affecting to the convergence process. To do this, we use accounting information with a microdata source composed by 35.042 firms over the period 1996–2004. The results show that there is a regional convergence process in firms belonging to high and low technological intensity. Moreover, in high technology sector there is not a spatial structure while this structure is evident in low technology sector. In this last case the spatial structure is influencing on the convergence process.

The Impact of China's Import Demand Growth on Sectoral Specialization in Brazil: A CGE Assessment

Brazil’s trade with China has expanded at a tremendous pace over the past few years. Between 1999 and 2004, its exports to China have grown by 800 percent in value terms while the value of its imports from China has more than tripled. China is now Brazil’s third most important export destination and its fourth most important import source. While the Brazilian government actively pursues closer trade and investment links with China, critics fear that potential resulting shifts in specialization patterns towards low-value-added activities with low human capital and technology intensity may adversely affect Brazil’s long-run growth prospects, given that Brazilian exports to China consist primarily of primary commodities, while imports from China increasingly compete with domestic manufacturing output in home and third-country markets. To which extent are fears that China’s emergence as a global player in international trade pushes Brazil back into raw material corner warranted? This paper aims to provide a partial answer to this question by focusing on the impact of China’s growth in demand for Brazilian exports from 2001 to 2006 on the sectoral structure of the Brazilian economy. The analytical framework is a 34-sector computable general equilibrium model. The model is calibrated to a 2001 dataset and shocked with the growth in Brazilian exports to China by sector over the period 2001 to 2006. The simulation results provide an indication of the strength of the resource pull effects due to this shock in isolation from all other exogenous influences on the Brazilian economy.