The Nexus between Labor Diversity and Firm's Innovation

Pierpaolo Parrotta, Dario Pozzoli and Mariola Pytlikova

No 2011005, Norface Discussion Paper Series from Norface Research Programme on Migration, Department of Economics, University College London

Abstract: In this paper we investigate the nexus between rm labor diversity and innovation using a linked employer-employee data from Denmark. Specically, exploiting information retrieved from the comprehensive database and implementing a proper instrumental variable strategy, we are able to identify the contribution of workers diversity in cultural background, skills and demographic characteristics to valuable firm's innovation activity. The latter is measured by: (1) the firm's propensity to apply for a patent, (2) the number of patent applications (intensive margin) and (3) the firm's ability to patent in different technological areas (extensive margin). We find that skill and ethnic diversity plays an important role in propelling firm's innovation outcomes. Conversely, the effect of demographic diversity typically vanishes once detailed firm-specic characteristics are included as control variables.

Keywords: Labor diversity; patenting activity; extensive and intensive margins. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 J24 L20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ino, nep-ipr and nep-pr~
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The nexus between labor diversity and firm’s innovation (2014)
Working Paper: The Nexus between Labor Diversity and Firm Innovation (2014)
Working Paper: The Nexus between Labor Diversity and Firm's Innovation (2012)
Working Paper: The Nexus between Labor Diversity and Firm´s Innovation (2010)
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