Cornelia Storz

Innovation, Institutions and Entrepreneurs: The Case of 'Cool Japan'

The Japanese innovation system is said to possess distinct weaknesses. One indicator is that in most new key industries, Japan is underrepresented on the world market. Given Japans success until the beginning of the 1990s, this development was quite unexpected and has induced comprehensive reforms of the Japanese innovation system. Apparently, those institutions that were responsible for the economic success of the 1980s now hinder Japans ability to adapt to and create new industries. This paper argues that while some reforms of the Japanese innovation system may be necessary, a paradigm change is not. Mainly one argument is provided for a more optimistic stance towards the sustainability of Japans competitiveness: the plasticity of innovation systems. With reference to one new and ‘cool’ industry, the Japanese game software sector, the relevance of the concept of plasticity is illustrated.

Institutional Variety in East Asia

This illuminating book broadly addresses the emerging field of ‘diversity of capitalism’ from a comparative institutional approach. It explores the varied patterns for achieving coordination in different economic systems, applying them specifically to China, Japan and South Korea. These countries are of particular interest due to the fact that they are often considered to have developed their own peculiar blend of models of capitalism.

Bounded careers in creative industries: Surprising patterns in video games

Abstract We contribute empirical evidence to the literature on careers in creative industries. It has been argued that boundaryless career patterns are at the core of creative industries. We question this widely held argument and show that the most innovative Japanese video game developers make use of employment models that prioritise stable employment and bounded careers linked to it. The paper makes several contributions: First, it carefully describes career development patterns of Japanese video game developers, which have so far not been documented. We hereby contribute to the literature on creative industries by adding an important empirical case of bounded career patterns. Second, we try to explain why Japanese firms stick to traditional practices by addressing the link of bounded careers to integrative capabilities, and discuss what this means for creative industries in general and for video games in particular. We argue that integrative capabilities matter also in creative industries.

Coordination between Inertia and Dynamic Development: An Overview of Issues and Contributions

This illuminating book broadly addresses the emerging field of ‘diversity of capitalism’ from a comparative institutional approach. It explores the varied patterns for achieving coordination in different economic systems, applying them specifically to China, Japan and South Korea. These countries are of particular interest due to the fact that they are often considered to have developed their own peculiar blend of models of capitalism.

Japan’s Silver Market: Creating a New Industry under Uncertainty

This illuminating book broadly addresses the emerging field of ‘diversity of capitalism’ from a comparative institutional approach. It explores the varied patterns for achieving coordination in different economic systems, applying them specifically to China, Japan and South Korea. These countries are of particular interest due to the fact that they are often considered to have developed their own peculiar blend of models of capitalism.

Rigidity and Change in the Japanese Venture Economy

In the aftermath of the financial crisis, Japan drifted into a lasting downturn, which has become known as Japan’s lost decade. Meanwhile, Japan’s Asian neighbors were experiencing a boost in economic growth, and the United States strengthened its comparative advantages and competitiveness in key technologies such as information technology and biotechnology. The emergence of these new industries came along with a dramatic growth of the venture capital industry in the United States over the last decades. Annual inflows to venture funds have expanded from virtually zero in the mid-1970s to nearly

Dynamics in innovation systems: Evidence from Japan's game software industry

41 billion in 2001.1 Many of most visible new firms — including Apple Computer, Genentech, Intel, Lotus, Microsoft, Google or Amazon — have been backed by venture capital funds.