This thesis proposes to enlighten several channels that favor the emergence and the outcome of creative ideas and innovation in general amongst private firms, with a particular focus on European companies. The first chapter introduces the motivations related to this research, defines the research objectives and questions addressed by the dissertation and concludes with the outline and the contributions of the thesis. <p><p>The second chapter analyzes the financing constraints on R&D investments. The central question in this chapter is whether financing constraints can explain a part of the acknowledged R&D gap between Europe and the US. In order to address this question, a dataset is constructed on the basis of a compilation of R&D scoreboards. The findings of this chapter are based on a sensitivity analysis of R&D to cash flow using estimates of dynamic R&D equations. The relationship between the financing constraints on R&D and the age of the companies is analyzed in an additional set of results with parametric as well as non parametric estimations. European firms appear to be affected by financing constraints in the 2000s while this is not the case for the US companies. The age seems to affect negatively the R&D sensitivity for EU and US leading innovators, with higher sensitivities for old and low-tech EU firms than their US counterparts.<p><p>The third chapter is dedicated to the measuring of the knowledge production of R&D expenditures when they are disaggregated into the following components: intramural versus extramural expenditures, research versus development expenditures, product-oriented versus process-oriented, human capital versus investments. The sources of funding and the types of subcontractors are also considered. The main question of this chapter is whether the heterogeneity of R&D affects the technology performance of the companies, as measured by patent applications. A cross-sectional Belgian R&D survey conducted over 2004-2005 is used for the purpose of the analysis. Given the high dependency of the Belgian innovation system towards the foreign MNEs, a matching process was performed between Belgian R&D and patents related to Belgian inventors in order to capture the patents filed outside Belgium but related to inventions created by firms located in Belgium (i.e. subsidiaries of foreign groups). Estimates of the elasticity of the quantity of patents with respect to the components of R&D are provided. <p><p>The main question of the fourth chapter is whether the diversification strategies of the economic activities of the R&D leaders in Europe affect, positively or negatively, the performance of their R&D activities. An original approach is proposed on the basis of the analysis of the subsidiaries of EU MNEs. The sample consists of large R&D firms that represent about 80% of total European R&D. In general, the results indicate a positive impact from globalization on firms’ R&D productivity, especially in the US, while a negative impact for industrial diversification is found. <p><p>The main question of the fifth chapter is whether the R&D activities that are conducted outside Europe still benefit to European growth. If so, how does the regional location of R&D centers matter in the production process of EU MNEs? The analysis is conducted on the basis of a unique sample of 637 European R&D leaders with information that is consolidated with respect to about 8000 worldwide patenting subsidiaries. The assessment of R&D internationalization is proxied by the regional repartition of the inventors of each firm. The empirical findings suggest that R&D located in Europe yields significant economic results, but a reallocation of R&D located in Europe instead of outside Europe seems to be correlated with lower R&D performances in high-tech sectors, but not in lower-tech industries. Conversely, a larger share of R&D located in the US seems to improve the economic performance of R&D activities within high-tech EU MNEs while the effect is negative for lower-tech companies. Nevertheless, the economic performance of R&D centers in Europe and US is jointly positive and significant for both regions.<p><p>The sixth chapter concludes the dissertation by reviewing the main findings of the previous chapters. Policy implications are summarized and the limitations of the thesis are addressed. Finally, extensions of the scope of the analysis and ideas for future research are suggested. / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

West Africa is subject to frequent yield losses due to erratic rainfall and degraded soils. At the same time, its population is expected to double by 2050. This situation is alarming in northern Togo, a West African dry savannah area, where rainfed maize is a staple food. Thus, it is necessary to improve agricultural productivity, e.g., by evaluating and introducing alternative irrigation management strategies, which may be implemented in this region. For this purpose, the present investigation focused on evaluating the potential of deficit and supplemental irrigation, as well as assessing the impact of climate and soil variability on maize yield under irrigated agriculture using irrigation optimisation strategies in northern Togo. The Optimal Climate Change Adaption Strategies in Irrigation (OCCASION) framework was adapted and employed to address the research objectives. It involves: (i) a weather generator for simulating long-term climate time series; (ii) the AquaCrop model, which was utilised to simulate the irrigation during the growing periods and the maize yield response to given irrigation management strategies; and (iii) a problem-specific algorithm for optimal irrigation scheduling with limited water supply. Five irrigation management strategies viz. T1: no irrigation (NI), T2: controlled deficit irrigation (CDI) and T3: full irrigation (FI) in the wet season, T4: controlled deficit irrigation (CDI) and T5: full irrigation (FI) in the dry season were assessed regarding their impact on maize yield in northern Togo. The results showed high variability in rainfall during the wet season, which led to substantial variability in the expected yield for NI. This variability was significantly lessened when optimised supplemental irrigation management strategies (CDI or FI) were applied. This also holds for the irrigation scenarios under the dry season. Finally, these findings were validated by an irrigation field experiment conducted at an agricultural research institute in northern Togo. Under a moderate level of deficit irrigation during the vegetative and reproductive growth stages, the above-ground biomass and the maize grain yield were reduced. However, a moderate level of deficit irrigation during the vegetative growth stage could result in similar values of water productivity to that of fully irrigated treatment. It was found that, based on the values of the statistical indicators, AquaCrop has accurately simulated the maize grain yield for all the irrigation strategies evaluated. The results of this study revealed that climate variability might engender a higher variability in the maize yields of northern Togo than soil variability does. Large- and smallscale water harvesting, access to groundwater, and irrigation infrastructures would be required for implementing the irrigation management strategies assessed in this study.:Declaration iii Declaration of Conformity v Dedication vii Acknowledgements ix Abstract xi Table of Contents xv List of Figures xvii List of Tables xix List of Acronyms and Abbreviations xxi 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Background and Problem Statement 1 1.1.1 Global Fresh and Agricultural Water Use 1 1.1.2 Erratic Rainfall, Rising Temperatures, and Soil fertility depletion in West Africa 2 1.1.3 Transboundary Water Issues in West Africa 3 1.1.4 Agriculture and Water Use in Togo 3 1.2 Objectives of the Study 4 2. State of the Art 6 2.1 Relevant Agroecosystems, Farming Systems and Irrigation Management in West Africa 6 2.2 Key Performance Indicators: Water productivity and Food Security 8 2.3 Common Approaches Used to Evaluate Crop Water Productivity 9 2.4 Key production Factors: Climate, Soil and Management 9 2.5 Crop Yield Modelling 12 2.6 Integrated Modelling 13 3. Novel Framework for Optimising Irrigation Systems in West Africa 15 3.1 Model-based Sensitivity Analysis of Climate and Management Impact on Crop Water Productivity, Water Demand and Food Security 15 3.2 Experimental Validation of the Farm Model and Management Strategies, Soil Data Analysis and Modelling 17 3.3 Joint Stochastic Analysis of the Impact of Climate and Soil Variability on Crop Water Productivity and Food Security 19 4. Overview of Publications 21 4.1 Potential of Deficit and Supplemental Irrigation under Climate Variability in Northern Togo, West Africa 21 4.2 Impact of Irrigation Strategies on Maize (Zea mays L.) Production in the Savannah Region of Northern Togo (West Africa) 22 4.3 Impact of climate and soil variability on maize (Zea mays L.) yield under full and deficit irrigation in the savannah region of northern Togo, West Africa 23 5. Conclusion and Outlook 26 References 28 A. Selected Publications of the Author 37 A.1 Potential of Deficit and Supplemental Irrigation under Climate Variability in Northern Togo, West Africa 39 A.2 Impact of Irrigation Strategies on Maize (Zea mays L.) Production in the Savannah Region of Northern Togo (West Africa) 61 A.3 Impact of Climate and Soil Variability on Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield under Full and Deficit Irrigation in the Savannah Region of Northern Togo, West Africa 81 B. Histograms of distributions of the expected maize yield in northern Togo (scenarios in the third paper) 121

This paper reviews the status quo of the empirical and theoretical literature on the determinants of the elasticity of substitution between capital and labor. Our focus is on the two-input constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function. By example of the U.S., we highlight the distinctive heterogeneity in empirical estimates of σ at both the aggregate and industrial level and discuss potential methodological explanations for this variation. The main part of this survey then focuses on the determinants of σ. We first review several approaches to the microfoundation of production functions, especially the CES production function. Second, we outline the construction of an aggregate elasticity of substitution (AES) in a multi-sectoral framework and investigate its dependence on underlying sectoral elasticities. Third, we discuss the influence of the institutional framework on the determination of σ. The concluding section of this review identifies a number of potential empirical and theoretical avenues for future research. Overall, we demonstrate that the effective elasticity of substitution (EES), which is typically estimated in empirical studies, is generally not an immutable deep parameter but depends on a multitude of technological, non-technological and institutional determinants.

Thesis (MEcon)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Education production function analysis is widely recognised as one important area of research that needs to inform education policymaking, specifically policy relating to the mix of funded inputs in a schooling system. Arriving at production functions is a complex task, and is fraught with methodological pitfalls. This thesis sets out to establish a framework for undertaking education production function analysis, and in discussing its various elements, including its pitfalls, recommendations for good practice are arrived at. The material analysed is of four types: texts on econometric theory; existing production function analyses; documentation relating to three dataintensive school monitoring programmes, namely Brazil’s SAEB, South Africa’s Systemic Evaluation and the international SACMEQ programme; and lastly data, relating mainly to South Africa, from the 2000 run of SACMEQ. The thesis is organised according what can be regarded as seven key analysis steps. These steps include a focus on the importance of a ‘mental model’, the relative benefits of the one-level regression model and the hierarchical linear model (HLM), and the formulation of actual production functions for South Africa based on the SACMEQ data, using both one-level and HLM models. Key conclusions are, firstly, that the HLM, though still under-developed, offers great analysis potential and, secondly, that production function analyses ought to be translated into budgetary terms in order for them to become fully meaningful to the policymaker.

Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-05-08T19:40:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mirela Rosa.pdf: 33214432 bytes, checksum: 6b8afee33b9a338a882f4914815741d2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T19:40:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mirela Rosa.pdf: 33214432 bytes, checksum: 6b8afee33b9a338a882f4914815741d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-01-31 / Nenhuma / O Design de Serviços é constituído de uma metodologia que utiliza um conjunto de ferramentas que permitem projetar soluções para melhorar a percepção dos usuários sobre os serviços, que podem ser aplicadas em diversas áreas e contextos. Conforme a complexidade de cada setor, se torna necessário considerar abordagens de projeto que tornariam os resultados desta metodologia mais eficazes e mensuráveis, como é o caso da Saúde. Alguns autores que vêm pesquisando a aplicação neste setor, sugerem uma possível integração do Design baseado em evidências (DBE) e do Design baseado em experiências (DBEx) para viabilizar que um projeto orientado pelo usuário seja implementado em larga escala. Em busca da investigação sobre a lógica de evidências, foi estudada uma ferramenta utilizada no setor de serviços chamada Mecanismo da Função Produção (MFP), que prevê a quantificação das perdas dos processos. O presente estudo teve como contexto o Intensivismo Adulto (CTI) de um hospital privado em Porto Alegre e aplicou um caso em Design de Serviços com a lógica das evidências através da ferramenta MFP, para o desenvolvimento de uma abordagem integrada. Foi utilizado o método de pesquisa-ação com a descrição de todo o processo de projeto e dos resultados obtidos. A partir das análises pode-se constatar que (i) o olhar das evidências contribui para replicações dos resultados do projeto em casos futuros, (ii) o MFP pode ser um argumento para justificar a realização de um projeto em Design e (iii) para a integração das experiências com as evidências no setor hospitalar, pode-se gerenciar o projeto de modo a destinar um tempo maior para o diagnóstico e para a implementação. / Service Design consists of a methodology that uses a set of tools to create solutions to improve users perception on services, which can be applied in many fields and contexts. As the complexity of each field, it is necessary to consider approaches that would make results of this methodology more effective and measurable, such as health sector. Some authors have been research application of Service Design in this sector, and suggest a possible integration of evidence-based design (EBD) and experience-based design (ExBD) to enable a user-oriented design on a large scale implementation. In search on the logic of evidence, we studied a tool used in service sector called Mechanism of the Production Function, that provides quantification of loss processes. The present study was context in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Porto Alegre and applied a case of Service Design with the logic of the evidence through MFP tool for the development of an integrated approach. We used the method of action research with the description of the whole design process and results. From the analysis it was found that (i) the look of the evidence contributes to replication of project outcomes in future cases, (ii) MFP is an argument supporting the realization of a Design project and (iii) to integrate experiences with evidence in the hospital sector, we can manage the project in order to devote more time to the diagnosis and implementation.

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Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2015-12-16T11:02:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 talespulinhoramos.pdf: 6134665 bytes, checksum: 349537ae72f568271488022944942fb6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2015-12-16T11:20:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 talespulinhoramos.pdf: 6134665 bytes, checksum: 349537ae72f568271488022944942fb6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-16T11:20:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 talespulinhoramos.pdf: 6134665 bytes, checksum: 349537ae72f568271488022944942fb6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-23 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O Sistema Interligado Nacional (SIN) apresenta cerca de 150 usinas hidráulicas e o planejamento de médio prazo contempla entre 5 e 10 anos de estudo, a representação do sistema à usinas individualizadas faz com que a resolução do problema seja muito custoso computacionalmente. Para isso, o sistema é representado a partir de sistemas equivalentes de energia. Existe um trabalho anterior onde foi realizado a flexibilização da modelagem do sistema, denominada modelagem híbrida, em que parte do sistema é representado através de sistemas equivalentes de energia e outra é representada à usinas individualizadas com a produtibilidade constante. Desta forma, consegue-se um maior detalhamento nos estudos de médio prazo mantendo a complexidade do sistema em um nível adequado computacionalmente. Este trabalho apresenta a modelagem híbrida entre sistemas equivalentes de energia e à usinas individualizadas, porém, considerando as não linearidades das usinas hidráulicas. As não linearidades das usinas basicamente se dão em relação a variação do nível do reservatório e da vazão defluente (vazão turbinada acrescida da vazão vertida), o que implica diretamente na geração hidráulica. A proposta consiste em modelar a geração hidráulica das usinas (Função de Produção Hidráulica - FPH), que é uma função analítica não linear e não convexa, por uma função linear por partes convexa que represente adequadamente a função de produção hidráulica analítica. Há um trabalho anterior onde a FPH é aproximada por uma função linear por partes em duas etapas, inicialmente a função é aproximada nas dimensões do armazenamento e do turbinamento e, em uma segunda etapa, é adicionado a contribuição do vertimento. Já neste trabalho, a FPH é aproximada por uma função linear por partes obtida em apenas uma etapa para as três dimensões a partir do algoritmo Convex Hull. Assim, é possível resolver o problema de médio prazo considerando parte do sistema representado de forma equivalente e outra parte de forma individualizada considerando a variação da geração hidráulica em função do volume armazenado, vazão turbinada e vertida (se houver influência no canal de fuga). / The National Interconnected Power System (NIPS) presents around 150 hydraulic plants and the medium term planning contemplates between 5 to 10 years of study, the representation of the system to individualized plants makes the problem impracticable in computing; then the system is represented from equivalent systems of energy. There is an alternative of modeling flexibility of the system named hybrid modeling, in which part of the system is represented through equivalent systems of energy and the other is represented to individualized plants with constant productivity. As a consequence, it is obtained greater detail in the long term studies, maintaining the complexity of the system in an adequate level in computing. This paper presents the hybrid modeling between equivalent systems of energy and individualized plants. However, it considers non-linearities on generation of hydraulic plants. The non-linear characteristic on generation function basically comes from the influence of the reservoir level (head term) and the release term (turbinated outflow added to spilled outflow). The suggestion is to model the hydraulic generation of the plants (Hydraulic Production Function - HPF), which is a non-linear and non-convex analytical function, into a convex piecewise linear function that represents appropriately the function of the analytical hydraulic production. It will be described in detail in this paper the technique used to obtain this piecewise linear function by applying the Convex Hull algorithm to guarantee the convexity of this function. To conclude, it is possible to solve the problem of long term considering part of the system represented by equivalent form and the other part in individualized manner considering the variation of the hydraulic generation in relation to the volume stored, turbaned and spilled outflow.

Les flux financiers internationaux ont connu un développement accéléré au cours des quatre dernières décennies, et le rôle du secteur bancaire dans la transformation de ces flux en moyens de financer la demande s’est accru. Or le passage d’un choc de flux, à un choc de revenu, puis à un choc de demande, génère des ajustements de type «Syndrome Hollandais»; avec variation des prix relatifs et ajustement de la structure de production, mouvement des facteurs de production, et variation des rémunérations absolues et relatives de ces facteurs. Le phénomène est d’importance pour les petites économies ouvertes preneuses de prix et exposées aux chocs exogènes. Nous conceptualisons la transmission du choc et les ajustements sur différents horizons temporels pour une économie à deux secteurs; l’un produisant des biens échangeables et l’autre des biens non-échangeables. L’économie dispose de deux facteurs de production, le travail et le capital, substituables et mobiles avec le temps. Nous testons ce cadre conceptuel sur le Liban, le Luxembourg, et l’Islande; trois pays bénéficiant de larges flux financiers internationaux avant la crise de 2008 et ayant des secteurs bancaires de tailles importantes. Nous trouvons que la direction et l’intensité des ajustements de moyen terme vont dépendre du différentiel d’intensité capitalistique entre secteurs. Sur le long terme, l’offre des facteurs va se modifier. Nous testons aussi l’impact des politiques de réserves et du marché de la monnaie et du crédit, et des politiques fiscales et structurelles. La combinaison de mesures produit de meilleurs résultats sans toutefois mettre le poids de l’atténuation des ajustements sur un seul instrument. / Foreign financial inflows have developed quickly in the past 40 years. These inflows have increased the ability of the banking sector to further finance domestic demand. The transformation of foreign financial inflows into an income and demand shock generates Dutch Disease adjustments; with change in relative prices and adjustments in the productive system, resources movement, and change in the absolute and relative remunerations of factors of production. The phenomenon is of great importance in the case of small open economies that are price takers in the international market and exposed to exogenous shocks. We conceptualize the transmission of the shock and the adjustments over different time horizons for an economy composed of two sectors; one producing traded goods and the other producing non-traded goods. This economy is endowed with two factors of production, labor and capital, substitutable and mobile as time elapses. We experiment this conceptual framework in the cases of Lebanon, Luxemburg, and Iceland; the three economies having large banking sectors and benefiting from large foreign financial inflows prior to the 2008 crisis. We find that the direction and intensity of adjustments over the medium term depend on the differential of capital intensity between sectors. Over the longer term, the supply of factors of production would change. We also simulate the impact of policy choices, with focus on reserves policies, policies of money and credit, fiscal policies, and structural policies. The combination of measures leads to better results without putting the burden of the mitigation of adjustments on one single policy instrument.