This dissertation investigates the process of economic growth with heterogeneous agents from a multi-level perspective. Building upon Kaldorian and Evolutionary principles, growth is defined as a path-dependent and complex phenomenon, which requires structural variation and the interplay between demand and supply at distinct analytical levels. Two concomitant and dependent 'layers' of this process are emphasised: the supply-led 'intra-sectoral development trajectory' and the demand-led 'inter-sectoral development trajectory'. The key element in the first is the firm size, which is shown to have a non-linear influence on the process of technological change. The second layer is shown to depend on the growth of income and patterns of production and consumption reflected on the inter-sectoral composition and level of 'sophistication' of the productive structure. The key to understand divergent growth trajectories lies in the interaction between these layers and the contradictory effects imposed at each analytical level both by demand (top-down) and supply (bottom-up). The approach is both theoretical and empirical and the analysis reveals important stylised facts of growth at the firm, sector and country levels. The text is structured in four sections comprising 9 chapters. Section I introduces the theoretical foundations of the work and the limitations of Evolutionary and Kaldorian schools to explain the multi-level 'allocation problem'. Section II presents the databases and empirically assesses the influence of the (re)allocation of labour on growth at each analytical level. Section III investigates the foundations of the process of micro-meso and macro process of development. The final section proposes a unified theoretical framework to connect the multi-level evidence. The analysis reinforces the interplay between demand and supply in growth trajectories, prompting a number of original policy implications.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:00:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao parte 1.pdf: 1955854 bytes, checksum: 54675e10f9459d57523da8b021b34b66 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-04 / Considering the growing importance of scientific knowledge for technological progress of companies, there is an important role played by universities. In this paper, the importance of the relationship between innovations and institutions in the interaction between universities and firms are analyzed through the framework of Evolutionary Economics and New Institutional Economics. The main models of university-industry interaction and its impact on scientific and technological policies in Brazil are presented, further an analysis of the Law of Innovation. The interaction between universities and companies in Brazil are analyzed using information from the directory of groups of CNPq and from the IBGE`s Industrial Research of Technological Innovation (Pintec). For empirical evidence of the study, are analyzed the Núcleo de Excelência em Estruturas Metálicas e Mistas (NEXEM), the result of partnership between the Federal University of Espirito Santo (UFES) and Companhia Siderurgica de Tubarão (CST). / Tendo em vista a crescente importância do conhecimento científico para o progresso tecnológico das firmas, observa-se o importante papel desempenhado pelas universidades. Neste trabalho, procura-se analisar a importância da relação entre inovações e instituições na interação entre universidades e empresas por meio dos arcabouços da Economia Evolucionista e da Nova Economia Institucional. São apresentados os principais modelos de interação universidade-empresa e suas repercussões nas políticas científicas e tecnológicas do Brasil, além de uma análise da Lei de Inovação. A interação entre universidades e empresas no Brasil é analisada por meio das informações do Diretório de Grupos do CNPq e da Pesquisa Industrial de Inovação Tecnológica (Pintec), do IBGE. Para comprovação empírica do estudo, analisa-se o Núcleo de Excelência em Estruturas Metálicas e Mistas (NEXEM), resultado da parceria entre a Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) e a então Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão (CST), hoje Arcelor Mittal Tubarão.

No description available.

Univ., Diss.--Jena, 2001.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The knowledge economy is regarded by many authorities and policymakers as a significant and burgeoning aspect of the global economy. Yet there is no adequate theory of the production and exchange of knowledge; there is no adequate microeconomics of knowledge. In his 1995 work, titled Information Space, Max Boisot responds to this theoretical challenge by undertaking a bold and insightful project to lay the groundwork for just such an economics of knowledge. Boisot’s project entails two outcomes: an interwoven set of paradigmatic-ontological antecedents as a philosophical foundation; and a general theoretical framework, the Information-space (I-space), for understanding the economising principles that underlie the creation and distribution of information and knowledge. Boisot does not put forward an economics of knowledge per se. Rather, he sets out to lay the philosophical and general theoretical foundations for such an economic theory. Among Boisot’s paradigmatic-ontological antecedents is a commitment to evolutionary thinking. This is extended and adopted as a more specific commitment in the explication of the I-space. Thus, Boisot’s commitment to evolution is not trivial, and the I-space should be evolutionary in a strict sense. This thesis focuses on the I-space as an evolutionary framework and is a conceptual assessment of the I-space in relation to generalized Darwinism as the dominant contemporary conception of what it means to be evolutionary. The I-space is taken seriously as an explanatory framework, but it is assessed on its own terms as a general theory that is not amenable to a Popperian refutationist assessment. Thus, the I-space is construed as a putative evolutionary explanatory framework for an economics of knowledge. Contemporary evolutionary thinking has a long history, and is both pluralistic and polemical. However, a generalized Darwinian framework is discernable in the various applications of Darwinism in biology, evolutionary economics and evolutionary epistemology, and in the discourse of generalized Darwinism. The derivation – or extraction – of such a framework and its set of criteria is, nevertheless, a challenging task since it is not always clear what evolution and Darwinism entail conceptually, and there is no unanimity of opinion in the literature. This thesis is an attempt to identify the core logical criteria of generalized Darwinism that may be used to assess the I-space as a putative global evolutionary explanation. Though it does incorporate, or satisfy, many of the criteria identified, the I-space fails to satisfy two of them, and this thesis therefore concludes that the I-space is not a global generalized Darwinian framework. Firstly, and most importantly in terms of the conceptual hierarchy of generalized Darwinism, the I-space defines ex ante a finite set of attributes – degree of abstraction and degree of codification – as constitutive of global fitness. In other words, it regards the traits of abstraction and codification to be both necessary and sufficient to explain the differential diffusion of knowledge. Although evolutionary theory is of predictive value in local evolutionary situations, it is argued in this thesis that it is inadmissible in a global Darwinian evolutionary situation to specify ex ante the selection criteria in terms of a finite set of traits and to predict global evolutionary outcomes on that basis. In doing so, the I-space ignores the inherent contingency of the evolutionary process. More specifically, it ignores the contingency of knowledge creation and diffusion in a varied and changing environment, and makes exogenous to the I-space other factors that may also be of selective significance. Secondly, and closely related, is that the I-space does not define populations according to shared exposure to selection pressure; rather, knowledge is stratified according to shared attributes along the I-space dimensions of abstraction and codification. This presents a conceptual problem for the I-space, since it is conceivable that knowledge objects of the same degree of abstraction and codification may be directed at entirely different phenomenal domains and thus cannot be taken to be competing; conversely, knowledge objects of different degrees of abstraction and codification may be directed at the same phenomena and should thus be taken as competing. The primary implication of this outcome is that, from a Darwinian point of view, the I-space, as a local evolutionary explanation, cannot serve as a general theory for an evolutionary economics of knowledge. It may give rise to other local theories, but it will not support the development of an economics of knowledge that would operate at a higher level of generality than the I-space. A second implication, also from a strict Darwinian point of view, is that evolutionary general theory may be explanatory, but it may not be predictive; evolutionary theories may indeed predict at the local level, but not at the global level. The final implication is that the search for a microeconomics of knowledge continues, and will become more urgent as the knowledge economy unfolds, and as our ability to quantify it improves.

L’objet de cette thèse est l’analyse du comportement d’innovation des entreprises en Tunisie. L’analyse portesur les conditions économiques qui motivent les entreprises à innover, celles qui orientent leurs activités d’innovationet celles qui rendent difficile leur succès. La thèse est organisée en deux parties. La première partieprésente une relecture des théories modernes de l’innovation, les caractéristiques de l’économie tunisienneet celles de l’enquête sur l’innovation en Tunisie, utilisée dans l’analyse. La seconde partie de la thèse présenteles résultats des analyses statistiques et économétriques des déterminants de l’innovation en Tunisie.L’analyse est affinée autour des questions plus spécifiques, particulièrement pertinentes dans le cadre d’unpays en développement comme la Tunisie et en rapport avec les politiques mises en oeuvre et la stratégiede spécialisation internationale retenue dans ce pays. L’analyse conduit à un premier tableau des activitésd’innovations en Tunisie, qui nous amène à nous interroger sur la relation entre les stratégies d’exportationet les activités d’innovation des firmes. Une autre dimension internationale des stratégies de développementmodernes concerne le rôle des investissements directs étrangers dans l’innovation. La thèse s’interroge, endernier lieu, sur les dimensions de l’économie tunisienne qui sont perçues par les firmes comme affaiblissantleurs capacités à innover. / The purpose of this thesis is the analysis of the innovation behaviour of firms in Tunisia. The analysis focuseson the economic conditions that motivate firms to innovate, those which direct their innovation activitiesand those that make difficult their success. The thesis is organized into two parts. The first one presents apresentation of modern theories of innovation, the characteristics of the Tunisian economy and those of thesurvey on innovation in Tunisia, used in the analysis. The second part of the thesis presents the econometricand statistical results of the analysis of determinants of innovation in Tunisia. The analysis is refined on morespecific questions, particularly relevant in the context of a developing country like Tunisia and related withthe implemented policies and the strategy of international specialization chosen in this country. The analysisleads to a first picture of innovation activities in Tunisia, which leads us to wonder about the relationshipbetween export strategies and innovation activities of firms. Another international dimension of the modernstrategies of development concerns the role of the foreign direct investments in the innovation. The thesisexamines, finally, the dimensions of the Tunisian economy which are perceived by firms as weakening theirability to innovate.

Grounded in an evolutionary approach to environmental sustainability, this thesis adds an understanding of the dynamics of the greening of the economy, particularly highlighting the neglected demand side aspect of the greening of markets. Since the emergence of green food markets in the 1980s and 1990s, this study investigates the role of retail groups in the development of the green food market in Denmark and Brazil. Accordingly, it investigates the rate and the direction of the greening of this process in those markets as well as the convergence and the impact of retailers\' strategizing in the grocery sector. Using the dynamic capabilities framework, it examines why, how and when the strategizing, performance and competitiveness of grocery retail groups co-evolved with the development of the Danish and Brazilian green food markets. This thesis contributes innovatively to the literature on at least three more aspects. Firstly, it advances the existing literature in adding combined qualitative and quantitative longitudinal firm-level data, which is analysed over time through a proposed set of macro (market-level), meso (sectoral-level), and micro (firm-level) dimensions\' indicators of green market analysis. Secondly, it provides the perspectives of the interviewed retail groups and market support stakeholders operating in the Danish and Brazilian green food markets. Thirdly, it provides an estimate of the green food sales in the Brazilian retail sector. Even though this thesis concludes that major retail groups in Denmark and Brazil were not the pioneers in the green food market, their collaboration with specialized organic food producers and market support stakeholders were rather central in making the green food market a viable business case. These retail groups were key players in the evolution of the green food market as they have played a vital role in scaling up the Danish and Brazilian green food markets to higher turnover levels. Furthermore, these retailers sensed the market potential for the green foods in the 1980s and 1990s, and particularly in the 2000s and onwards, and through strategizing have been able to size and transform the green food market in Brazil and Denmark. These retailers\' strategizing and related capabilities building have been key to the innovative changes in their business models, which have become markedly greener in this period due to their role in the development of the Danish and Brazilian green food markets. Finally, as Denmark is at a higher level of green food turnover than Brazil, it suggests a more mature stage of its green economy. / Seguindo uma abordagem evolucionária para sustentabilidade ambiental, esta tese agrega uma compreensão das dinâmicas de esverdeamento da economia, particularmente destacando o aspecto negligenciado da demanda no esverdeamento dos mercados. Desde o surgimento dos mercados de alimentos verdes nas décadas de 1980 and 1990, este estudo investiga o papel dos principais grupos varejistas no desenvolvimento do mercado de alimentos verdes na Dinamarca e no Brasil. Dessa maneira, a taxa e a direção do processo de esverdeamento nesses mercados são investigados, bem como a convergência e o impacto da estratégia dos varejistas no setor supermercadista. Usando o quadro de análise das capacidades dinâmicas, esta tese investiga o por que, como e quando as estratégias, performance e competitividade dos grupos de varejo co-evoluíram com o desenvolvimento dos mercados de alimentos verdes dinamarquês e brasileiro. Ainda, este estudo contribui de forma inovadora em pelo menos mais três aspectos. Em primeiro lugar, avança-se a literatura existente complementando-a com dados longitudinais qualitativos e quantitativos ao nível da empresa, que são analisados ao longo do tempo através da proposição de um conjunto de indicadores das dimensões macro (nível de mercado), meso (nível setorial) e micro (nível da empresa) para análise do mercado verde. Em segundo lugar, prove-se as perspectivas dos varejistas e stakeholders de suporte do mercado entrevistados, que atuam nos mercados de alimentos verdes dinamarquês e brasileiro. Em terceiro lugar, estima-se o volume de vendas dos alimentos verdes do setor varejista brasileiro. Embora esta tese conclua que os principais grupos varejistas na Dinamarca e no Brasil não foram os pioneiros do mercado de alimentos verdes, estes em colabolação com produtores especializados em alimentos orgânicos e stakeholders de suporte do mercado foram centrais para tornar o mercado de alimentos verdes um caso de negócios viável. Tais grupos de varejo tiveram um papel decisivo no aumento da escala do volume de negócios dos mercados de alimentos verdes dinamarquês e brasileiro. Ademais, esses varejistas sentiram o potencial do mercado de produtos alimentares verdes já nas décadas de 1980 e 1990, e particularmente da década de 2000 em diante; e conseguiram através de estratégias específicas dimensionar e transformar o mercado de alimentos verdes na Dinamarca e no Brasil. A elaboração de estratégias e a construção de capacidades específicas desses varejistas foram fundamentais para as mudanças inovadoras em seus modelos de negócios, que se tornaram claramente mais verdes neste período devido ao papel deles no desenvolvimento dos mercados de alimentos verdes dinamarquês e brasileiro. Finalmente, como a Dinamarca está em um nível mais alto do que o Brasil no consumo de alimentos verdes, isto sugere um estágio mais maduro da economia verde dinamarquesa.

Le processus sélectif est-il nié, persistant ou dialectiquement réalisé dans la civilisation ? De ce problème, deux thèses générales se dégagent : (1) celle de l’épuisement de la sélection naturelle, la société humaine témoignant d’une véritable émancipation vitale et (2) celle d’un report des pressions de sélection, le système de contraintes sélectives demeurant effectif. En fait, cette interrogation se trouve esquissée dès l’« anthropologie » de Charles Darwin (1871), sujette encore à débats, notamment sur l’existence du darwinisme social de ce dernier, forme, justement, de report des pressions de sélection. Face à la thèse de l’incohérence doctrinale de cette « anthropologie », qui légitime malgré elle qu’on fasse tout dire de Darwin, on proposera une cohérence articulée autour du concept de sympathie et des effets combinés de la sélection, de la culture et de l’habitude. Ensuite, il s’agira de proposer une théorie de l’émancipation vitale, mêlant report des pressions de sélection et émancipation par procès ‘technosymbiotique’, néologisme au lien fort avec la cultural niche construction (Odling-Smee). Prendre la civilisation comme une niche écologique, la culture comme un paramètre, résoudra une bonne part des problèmes théoriques et de ce dualisme identitaire qu’on retrouve si souvent dans notre approche de l’homme et de sa société. La réflexion sur la civilisation nous conduira à nous interroger sur le biotope économique, comme marque essentielle et originale de notre niche écologique. Notre émancipation biologique côtoie ainsi le maintien du système de contrainte sélectionniste, dans un biotope, dès lors, de plus en plus biomimétique / Is the selective process irrelevant, does it persist, or is it dialectically achieved in civilization? Two general theses arise from this question: (1) either the progressive extinction of natural selection, human society thus witnessing a genuine vital emancipation or (2) the persistence of selection pressures, the system of selective constraints thus remaining effective. In fact, this question was outlined in 1871 with Charles Darwin’s “anthropology”; his anthropology and notably his social Darwinism, a form of displacement of selection pressures continue to be debated today. Confronted with the thesis of the doctrinal inconsistency of this “anthropology” which allows Darwin’s words to be interpreted at will, we shall put forward a form of coherence based on the concept of sympathy and the combined effects of selection, culture and habits. We shall then put forward a theory of vital emancipation that combines the persistence of selection pressures and emancipation via a technosymbiotic process, a neologism similar to cultural niche construction (Odling-Smee). Considering civilization as an ecological niche and culture as a parameter will solve most theoretical problems, notably related to the identity dualism associated with a conventional approach to man and society. Our reflection on civilization will lead us to focus on and investigate into the economic biotope understood as an essential and specific feature of our ecological niche. Following this approach, man’s biological emancipation coexists with a system of selectionist constraint in a biotope that is, as a consequence, increasingly biomimetic

This thesis set out to explore the forces that determine the rise and fall of industrial leadership. It attempted to do this by applying an industry life cycle model to the shipping industry. The industrial life cycle was posited on the basis of existing literature, particularly the growth of knowledge, evolutionary and institutional literature, which lend themselves to patterns of industrial growth and entrapment. On this basis, this thesis set out to examine whether industrial leadership can be explained by a four-staged process of imitation, catch up, advance and entrapment. However, this thesis has exposed something more complicated. Processes of imitation, catch up advance and entrapment were shown to be at work in the shipping industry, but they were tempered by the effects of military and political forces that may not be exogenous, and the trend from regionalism to globalisation. The original model did not encompass early indigenous developments that are not based on imitation that do not immediately lead to a position of advanced leadership. In this light, a better description of the first stage would be capability building.

Since its beginnings, and more clearly since the mid 1800, Economics has been resting on the assumption that economic agents make rational decisions, maximizing their utility or well-being according to their own preferences and interests. The economic order resulting from that plurality of rational decisions is regarded as an efficient and Pareto-optimum one. Several authors have questioned the validity of those assumptions, and this has entailed a gradual transformation of the assumptions. This paper discusses the problems faced by the idea of a fully rational Homo economicus, the adjustments and defensive measures adopted by various tendencies within Economics to overcome those problems and counter various related theoretical and methodological criticisms. The paper also discusses more recent conceptions of economic reality that are at variance with the traditional view, especially those linked to behavioural, institutional and evolutionary Economics. / Desde sus inicios, y más claramente desde mediados del siglo XIX, la Economía se ha basado en el supuesto de que los agentes económicos toman decisiones racionales, maximizando su utilidad o bienestar de acuerdo a sus propias preferencias e intereses. El orden económico resultante de esa pluralidad de decisiones es considerado óptimo o eficiente. Diversos autores han cuestionado la validez de estos supuestos y ello ha motivado una gradual transformación de esos mismos supuestos. En este artículo se examinan los problemas que enfrenta la noción de un Homo economicus completamente racional, las correcciones y medidas defensivas adoptadas por distintas tendencias dentro del análisis económico a fin de resolver esos problemas y contrarrestar críticas teóricas y metodológicas, y el desarrollo reciente de algunas concepciones de la realidad económica que se apartan de aquella concepción tradicional, en especial las vinculadas a la economía conductual, a la economía institucional y a la economía evolucionaria.