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Spillovers, absorptive capacity and agglomeration

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  • Lychagin, Sergey

Abstract

I study knowledge spillovers in an industry where firms are heterogeneous in their ability to adopt knowledge (absorptive capacity). I set up a model in which firms choose locations anticipating potential gains and losses from other firms’ R&D activity. I apply the model to the US software industry and obtain the following results: the data supports localized knowledge spillovers; firms that have higher absorptive capacity are sorted into more agglomerated counties; ignoring firm heterogeneity leads to biased estimates of gains from spillovers; spillovers play an important role in explaining the geographic distribution of firms, but only within regions with high R&D activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lychagin, Sergey, 2016. "Spillovers, absorptive capacity and agglomeration," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 17-35.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:96:y:2016:i:c:p:17-35
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2016.08.005
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    Cited by:

    1. Duan, Yunlong & Liu, Shuling & Cheng, Hao & Chin, Tachia & Luo, Xuan, 2021. "The moderating effect of absorptive capacity on transnational knowledge spillover and the innovation quality of high-tech industries in host countries: Evidence from the Chinese manufacturing industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    2. Myeongwan Kim, John Lester, 2019. "R&D Spillovers in Canadian Industry: Results from a New Micro Database," CSLS Research Reports 2019-02, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    3. Bisztray, Márta & Koren, Miklós & Szeidl, Adam, 2018. "Learning to import from your peers," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 242-258.
    4. Myeongwan Kim, John Lester, 2019. "R&D Spillovers in Canadian Industry: Results from a New Micro Database," CSLS Research Reports 2019-02, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    5. EFI - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (ed.), 2013. "Research, innovation and technological performance in Germany - EFI Report 2013," Reports on Research, Innovation and Technological Performance in Germany, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin, volume 127, number 2013e, September.
    6. Wei, Wei & Zhang, Wan-Li & Wen, Jun & Wang, Jun-Sheng, 2020. "TFP growth in Chinese cities: The role of factor-intensity and industrial agglomeration," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 534-549.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Firm location; Knowledge diffusion;

    JEL classification:

    • R32 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Other Spatial Production and Pricing Analysis
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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