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R&D, innovation activity, and the use of external numerical flexibility

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  • Addessi, William
  • Saltari, Enrico
  • Tilli, Riccardo

Abstract

We address theoretically and empirically the impact of R&D and innovation activity (IA) on the use of external numerical flexibility (ENF). We build a firm-sided model showing that a first-order stochastic dominance shift in the productivity distribution function decreases the probability of hiring workers with temporary contracts, while a second-order shift has ambiguous effects. Next, using a dataset based on a survey of Italian manufacturing firms, we find that R&D and IA increase the extensive and intensive margins of employing workers with temporary contracts. Moreover, we disentangle the impact of different types of R&D and IA, finding that extra muros R&D always has a positive effect, while the effect of intra muros R&D is generally null. Also the effect of IA changes according to the type of activity: positive with product innovation, null with process innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Addessi, William & Saltari, Enrico & Tilli, Riccardo, 2014. "R&D, innovation activity, and the use of external numerical flexibility," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 612-621.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:36:y:2014:i:c:p:612-621
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2013.04.026
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    2. Addessi, William, 2014. "The productivity effect of permanent and temporary labor contracts in the Italian manufacturing sector," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 666-672.
    3. Marina Capparucci & Alina Verashchagina, 2016. "I divari territoriali nell?innovazione delle imprese italiane," QUADERNI DI ECONOMIA DEL LAVORO, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2016(105), pages 81-114.
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    5. Pasquale Tridico & Sebastiano Fadda & Antonella Mennella, 2014. "Flexibility and Productivity: The Case of the Labour Supply Contract Agreement in Italy," QA - Rivista dell'Associazione Rossi-Doria, Associazione Rossi Doria, issue 3, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Flexible employment; Labor contracts; R&D; Innovation activity; Stochastic dominance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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