Stewart Dunlop

Corporate structure, ownership and the likelihood of innovation

An examination is conducted into the effect which external ownership and other aspects of corporate ownership structure have on the likelihood of innovation for a sample of manufacturing plants located in Scotland. Econometric estimation indicates that plant size, the presence of in-plant R&D, and non-UK ownership have a positive effect on the likelihood of innovation. Multiplant operation, market power and variations in industrial structure have no discernible effect on innovation. The finding that foreign ownership is positively associated with innovation contrasts with previous research conducted on manufacturing plants in Northern Ireland.

The Economic Impact of Regular Season Sporting Competitions: The Glasgow Old Firm Football Spectators as Sports Tourists

This paper considers the economic impact of the sports tourism expenditures associated with regular season sports competition. In particular the sports tourism characteristics of the supporters of the two largest football clubs in Scotland – Celtic FC and Rangers FC – are investigated. Both of these clubs are based in Glasgow, but play matches (and draw supporters from) across and outside Scotland. The paper quantifies the direct, indirect and induced effects of this expenditure using a novel extension of a two-region Input Output (IO) table for Glasgow and the rest of Scotland. The IO system is used to calculate net additional economic activity, in terms of GDP and employment, from gross and displaced activity at different regional levels.

UK innovation policy : a critique

It is increasingly recognized that the production of new products and the development and diffusion of new production and organizational techniques are central to the competitiveness of both national and regional economies. Governments and agencies at all spatiallevels have therefore become involved in seelung to stimulate innovation. In the UK Government’s White Paper on Science and Technology and in the D T 1’s Competitiveness initiative, the promotion of innovation is given a central role. The available evidence does suggest that innovating firms both outperform non-innovators in terms ofprofitability and growth, and are more cyclically stable (GEROSKI and MACHIN, 1992). This would appear to provide prima facie justification for intervention. However, a recent comprehensive survey and analysis by the present authors of the innovation performance of Scottish manufacturing industy suggests that current UK innovation policy is largely irrelevant. In this article, we seek to explain why that is the case. In the next section we describe the main instruments ofUK innovation policy then briefly outline the main views on innovation policy drawn from a survey of, and interviews with, Scottish manufacturing firms. This is followed by a critique of the policy in the light of the experience of Scottish firms. Finally, the article concludes with some recommendations for changes to innovation policy in the UK.

Metropolitan misery: why do Scots live in ‘bad places to live’?

Abstract This paper uses data from the Scottish Household Survey to investigate urban–rural variations in life satisfaction in Scotland. It reviews the previous literature on spatial differences in life satisfaction and develops an econometric model that includes a range of factors previously shown to affect life satisfaction. Holding these factors constant, Scottish rural dwellers are found to have a significantly higher life satisfaction than city residents. Possible reasons for higher life satisfaction in rural areas are explored before finally drawing policy conclusions.