Knowledge diversity and firm growth: Searching for a missing link

Markus Grillitsch, Torben Schubert () and Martin Srholec
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Torben Schubert: CIRCLE, Lund University, Postal: CIRCLE, Lund University, PO Box 117, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden

No 2016/13, Papers in Innovation Studies from Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research

Abstract: The link between knowledge and firm growth has been a core topic in economics of innovation for a long time. However, despite strong theoretical arguments, empirical evidence remains inconclusive. One important reason for this conundrum may be the failure of standard indicators to comprehensively capture firm innovation activities. We contribute to overcoming this limitation by zooming in on the knowledge processes that drive variegated forms of innovation and aim thereby to establish a solid relationship with firm growth. The paper draws on the differentiated knowledge base approach, distinguishing between analytical, synthetic, and symbolic knowledge, and measures these types of knowledge with detailed longitudinal linked-employer-employee micro data from Sweden. Econometric findings indicate positive relationships between the three knowledge types, in particular combinations thereof, and firm growth. These relationships remain robust in a wide range of models. Our analysis therefore suggests that the seemingly weak relationship between firm growth and innovation may be explained by the narrow measurement concepts that have dominated in this literature so far.

Keywords: Knowledge; innovation; firm growth; micro data; Sweden (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C33 D22 O12 O32 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2016-04-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-ent, nep-eur, nep-ino, nep-knm, nep-sbm and nep-ure
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2016_013

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