Paula Garda

Technological and non-technological innovation and productivity in services vis-à-vis manufacturing sectors

ABSTRACT In this paper, the links between investment in innovation activities, innovation outputs (technological and non-technological innovation) and productivity in services vis-à-vis the manufacturing sector are explored using innovation survey data from Uruguay. The size of firms, their cooperation in R&D activities, the use of public financial support, patent protection and the use of market sources of information are very important drivers of the decision to invest in innovation activities across sectors. The main determinants of technological and non-technological innovations are the level of investment in innovation activities and the size of the firm. The results indicate that both technological and non-technological innovations are positively associated to productivity gains in services, but non-technological innovations have a more important role. The reverse happens for manufacturing, where technological innovations are more relevant for productivity.

Innovation, Firm Size, Technology Intensity, and Employment Generation: Evidence from the Uruguayan Manufacturing Sector

ABSTRACT In this article, we investigate the effect of product and process innovation on employment growth and on employment composition in terms of skills using data from Uruguayan manufacturing firms’ innovation surveys. The results reveal that product innovation is associated with employment growth. There is (weaker) evidence that process innovation displaces labor, especially in high-tech firms. There is evidence that innovation is more complementary to skilled than to unskilled labor. Product innovation seems to have a larger positive effect on skilled labor, especially in high-tech industries. Process innovation in general displaces unskilled labor but is neutral in terms of skilled labor.

Service Innovation in Developing Economies: Evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract This paper proposes a framework for understanding key aspects of service innovation in developing economies, based on four dimensions: first, the integration of services in national innovation systems; second, competences and preferences; third, networking and cooperation; and, fourth, outcomes in terms of socio-economic impacts. This conceptual framework is matched with new evidence from case studies performed in six different Latin America and the Caribbean countries (Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Jamaica) and nine sectors (tourism, software-ICT, outsourcing, mining, logistics, retail, creative services, sport services and biotech services). The results reveal the importance of specificities in service innovation and suggest policy and managerial implications.

Does Innovation Destroy Employment in the Services Sector? Evidence from a Developing Country

Abstract The employment effect of innovation in the heterogeneous universe of services is investigated using firm-level data provided by the 2004–9 Uruguayan services innovation surveys. The empirical analysis shows that the effect of product innovation on employment is positive, while process innovation appears to have no effect. Process innovation activities tend to replace low-skilled jobs with jobs of a higher level of qualification. Product innovation allows for efficiency gains in the production of new services with unskilled labor, and no gains with skilled labor. The results found for knowledge-intensive business services and small firms, with some exceptions, are similar to those found for the whole sample.

Service Innovation in Developing Economies

Abstract This paper proposes a framework for understanding key aspects of service innovation in developing economies, based on four dimensions: first, the integration of services in national innovation systems; second, competences and preferences; third, networking and cooperation; and, fourth, outcomes in terms of socio-economic impacts. This conceptual framework is matched with new evidence from case studies performed in six different Latin America and the Caribbean countries (Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Jamaica) and nine sectors (tourism, software-ICT, outsourcing, mining, logistics, retail, creative services, sport services and biotech services). The results reveal the importance of specificities in service innovation and suggest policy and managerial implications.

Service innovation in developing economies : evidence from Latin-American and Caribbean countries

Abstract This paper proposes a framework for understanding key aspects of service innovation in developing economies, based on four dimensions: first, the integration of services in national innovation systems; second, competences and preferences; third, networking and cooperation; and, fourth, outcomes in terms of socio-economic impacts. This conceptual framework is matched with new evidence from case studies performed in six different Latin America and the Caribbean countries (Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Jamaica) and nine sectors (tourism, software-ICT, outsourcing, mining, logistics, retail, creative services, sport services and biotech services). The results reveal the importance of specificities in service innovation and suggest policy and managerial implications.