Determinants of cross-regional R and D collaboration networks: an application of exponential random graph models

Tom Broekel () and Matte Hartog
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Matte Hartog: Section of Economic Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University

No 2013-04, Working Papers on Innovation and Space from Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography

Abstract: This study investigates the usefulness of exponential random graph models (ERGM) to analyze the determinants of cross-regional R and D collaboration networks. Using spatial interaction models, most research on R and D collaboration between regions is constrained to focus on determinants at the node level (e.g. R and D activity of a region) and dyad level (e.g. geographical distance between regions). ERGMs represent a new set of network analysis techniques that have been developed in recent years in mathematical sociology. In contrast to spatial interaction models, ERGMs additionally allow considering determinants at the structural network level while still only requiring cross-sectional network data. The usefulness of ERGMs is illustrated by an empirical study on the structure of the cross-regional R and D collaboration network of the German chemical industry. The empirical results confirm the importance of determinants at all three levels. It is shown that in addition to determinants at the node and dyad level, the structural network level determinant “triadic closure†helps in explaining the structure of the network. That is, regions that are indirectly linked to each other are more likely to be directly linked as well.

Keywords: cross-regional R and D collaboration; exponential random graph models; network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D85 O32 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23 pages
Date: 2013-02-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-geo, nep-ino, nep-net and nep-sbm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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