Adel Ben Youssef

Multiplicity of Eco-Labels, Competition, and the Environment

This article develops a vertical differentiation model to study the competition and environmental effects of multiplicity of eco-labels within a given market. The focus is on the informational content of multiple eco-labels and whether or not they reflect the environmental qualities the labels purport to represent. Two settings are considered. In the first setting, which represents the benchmark, we assume information is complete (consumers know the true environmental qualities of the eco-labeled goods). In the second setting, information is incomplete but consumers use price as a signal for environmental qualities. Our results show that when information is complete, introduction of a second eco-label in a market improves the environmental qualities of eco-labeled goods. When information is incomplete, introduction of a second label leads to a rise in prices and a reduction in the environmental qualities of the goods. The latter setting requires specific regulation whereby information must be revealed by a benevolent social planner.

Intra-Firm Diffusion of Innovation: Evidence from Tunisian SMEs Regarding Information and Communication Technologies

The aim of this paper is twofold: first, we want to explore the intra-firm diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) within Tunisian firms and to characterize its general trends regarding adoption and usage. Second, we want to emphasize the rank and epidemic effects highlighted by the disequilibrium models of intra-firm diffusion of innovation following the traditional view of Mansfield (1963a) and Antonelli (1985). Based on a face-to-face questionnaire of a random sample of 175 firms, our article shows that: (i) Three technological waves of ICT adoption are well characterized in the Tunisian manufacturing sector. This dynamic of adoption is linked to the age of the technologies. Time is the main explanatory variable for intra-firm diffusion of these technologies. (ii) A positive correlation between the size of the firm, seniority and the depth of adoption is found. This econometric estimation shows that the rank effect is well characterized within the Tunisian firms. (iii) A positive correlation between technological absorptive capacity building and intensity of ICT usage is found. This correlation confirms the epidemic effect. Our results show that disequilibrium model explanations of intra-firm diffusion of innovation are valid within the Tunisian manufacturing sector and seem more appropriate than the equilibrium theory for developing countries.

Information technologies, students' e-skills and diversity of learning process

Driven by Information Technologies (IT), universities are making in depth changes to the nature and form of learning processes, which are intended to better prepare students for entry into the labour market. In this paper, we focus on the evolution of students’ use of IT in an institution characterized by organizational changes, and we analyse the determinants of students’ e-skills using a sample set of French university students. We show that students’ involvement in the use of IT increases their e-skills. IT learning by doing and IT learning by using also increase some categories of students’ e-skills. In addition, collaborative and cooperative learning are positively associated with students’ advanced e-skills.

Students' E-Skills, Organizational Change and Diversity of Learning Process: Evidence from French Universities in 2010

Driven by ICT, universities are changing in depth the nature and forms of learning processes, which are intended to prepare students to a better entry into the labour market. In this paper, we focus on the evolution of students use of ICT in such an institution characterized by organizational changes and we analyse the determinants of students e-skills using a 2010 dataset of French university students. We show that students involvement in the use of ICT increases their e-skills. ICT learning by doing and ICT learning by using also increase some categories of students e-skills. In addition, collaborative and cooperative learning are positively associated with students advanced e-skills.

Difference between Adoption and Access Frequency to Internet and Consumer Surplus

The objective of this paper is twofold: first we use the methodology developed by Goolsbee and Klenow (2006) (G&K) that estimates the consumers surplus of Internets connection for France in 2005. Second, our paper challenges the initial methodology developed by G & K by using two complementary hypotheses and a Heckmans two stage estimation method. The first hypothesis take into account the concavity of the demand function of Internet and the second adds more realistic non-monetary variables. We also make some differentiation between Internet adoption and access frequency patterns using Heckmans (1976) correction procedure to resolves the selection problem. We find that French time opportunity cost is three times more important than connection cost. We find also that high-income people were more able to adopt Internet, but they spend less time online than low-income ones. In 2005, the French consumer surplus ranged between 1240

Testing the Causality between Electricity Consumption, Energy Use and Education in Africa

and 3126

How Can Innovative Practices in HEIs Facilitate Social Sustainable and Economic Development

if we use the G& K methodology, between 1679

Energy Use and Economic Growth in Africa: A Panel Granger-Causality Investigation

and 3126

E-Skills, Brains And Performance Of The Firms: ICT And Ability Of Firms To Conduct Successful Projects In Luxembourg

if we use our concave demand function, but between 2107

Exploring the Causality Links between Energy and Employment in African Countries

and 2651