Walid Hadhri

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.

The dynamic causal links between CO2 emissions from transport, real GDP, energy use and international tourism

ABSTRACT This study examines the dynamic causality relationship between international tourism and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from transport, real gross domestic product and energy use. The vector error correction model and Granger causality test approach have been used to investigate these relationships for the top ten international tourism destinations spanning the period 1995–2013. Results reveal a unidirectional causality running from CO2 emissions to economic growth without feedback; a bidirectional causality between economic growth and energy use; a bidirectional causality between international tourism and economic growth; and a bidirectional causality between international tourism and energy use. They also suggest that energy use and international tourism both contribute to the decrease of emissions level coming from transport sector, while economic growth leads to the increase of CO2 emissions. This study can be used in policy recommendations by encouraging countries to use clean energy and to stimulate tourism sector for combating global warming.

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

Determinants of Intra-firm Diffusion Process of ICT: Theoretical Sources and Empirical Evidence from Catalan Firms

and 3126

Adoption of Information and Communication Technologies and New Organizational Practices in the Tunisian Manufacturing Sector

if we use the G& K methodology, between 1679

Determinants of Intra-firm Diffusion Process of ICT

and 3126

Intra-Firm Diffusion of Innovation: Evidence from Tunisian SME's in Matters of Information and Communication Technologies

if we use our concave demand function, but between 2107

and Access Frequency to Internet and Consumer Surplus

and 2651

Part II Determinants of Demand for ICT

if we use our two stage estimation method.

The Dynamic Uses of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) by University Lecturers

The analysis of the main determinants of intra-firm diffusion of digital technologies is becoming in the focus of attention. However, there is a lack of empirical research, particularly in Europe. This paper proposes a specific approach to modelling intra-firm diffusion process by combining the well-established models of technological diffusion with organizational and networking complementarities view and epidemic evolutionary approaches. Our investigation is based upon a survey conducted in 2003 for 2038 enterprises by the Catalan government. Three econometric models are then tested. The first one is an ordered probit model where we test the probability of ICT adoption by firms. Secondly, we built a general model explaining intra-firm diffusion of ICT according to some specific tools as well as to different business uses of these digital technologies. Our results confirm the well-established literature. Thus, the main conclusion of this paper is that inter-firms ICT diffusion (i.e. investment in digital equipment) and ICT depth of adoption (i.e. spread of efficient digital uses), have different determinants, although they share some common traits based on the existence of complementary effects between digital technologies, innovation, organizational structure and workers skills within a firm.