Using administrative data from firms in Australia that conduct research and development (R&D), we examine how R&D activity of other firms and public institutions affect a firm’s own R&D expenditure. We distinguish between the impact of peers, suppliers and clients. We examine whether geographical proximity and industrial clustering affect R&D spillovers. Overall, we detect positive effects on R...

This paper analyses the impact of technological change and productive efficiency on the dynamics of industrial competition. Our theoretical model takes into account the innovation possibilities and the organisational structure of the firm. It considers three decision stages in which firms first have to solve for output and profits (and the market price), given the state of production techniques...

In the move towards world-class manufacturing, many firms are realizing a need for the use of proper maintenance of production facilities and systems. Industrial plants, machines and equipment are becoming technologically more advanced and at the same time more complex and difficult to control. Therefore, the importance of the maintenance function has been greater than before, due to its role i...

Recently, China’s energy industry has been continuously depressed due to a slowdown in its economic development. China’s energy companies have made considerable efforts to promote their corporate performance to mitigate this performance decline and to ensure the sustainable development of China’s energy industry, macro economy, society and environment. In this paper, the effects of two business...

The rules and institutions of collective bargaining are widely held to have an adverse effect on employment and thus on unemployment. These views are analysed, and it is argued that many industrial relations institutions provide a much greater degree of flexibility for firms than is often realised. It is often forgotten that collective agreements involve the agreement of employers who are thus ...

This paper examines empirically the relationship between the internal technological profile and the diversification through strategic alliances of the largest 219 industrial firms world-wide. It explores three related issues. First, the paper shows that firms’ internal technological diversification is more pronounced than external technological diversification. Second, it confirms the idea that...

This paper examines empirically the relationship between the internal technological profile and the diversification through strategic alliances of the largest 219 industrial firms world-wide. It explores three related issues. First, the paper shows that firms’ internal technological diversification is more pronounced than external technological diversification. Second, it confirms the idea that...

The impact of environmental regulation on firm productivity has been long been debated, however, mainly for western economies and with limited firm-level evidence. We study the impact of a large-scale national energy saving program (the Top 1000 Energy-Consuming Enterprises Program, or T1000P, 20062010) in China on firm productivity in the iron and steel industry. The T1000P assigned targets fo...

This paper analyses the changing patterns of Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) and the activities of Japanese multinational firms in different industrial sectors in China before and after the East Asian crisis in 1997 and 1998, and investigates changes in their impact on interdependence between China and Japan in the process of economic integration in East Asia. In order to analyse struc...

Marked differences exist in the industrial and regional policy regimes adopted in Israel and Ireland. This paper reviews these differences and investigates their influence on the development of the high-tech sector in each area. Using survey data from Irish and Israeli firms we examine the influence of public policy on the characteristics, location and innovation capability of high-tech firms. ...