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Knowledge Complementarity and Fungeability: Implications for Regional Strategy

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  • Cristiano Antonelli

Abstract

A NTONELLI C. (2003) Knowledge complementarity and fungeability: implications for regional strategy, Reg. Studies 37 , 595-606. Complexity and fungeability are two specific aspects of knowledge indivisibility. Complexity matters when the production of new knowledge requires the combination of diverse and yet complementary bits of knowledge. Fungeability is found when some units of knowledge can apply in a variety of different contexts, different products and different processes. Both knowledge complexity and knowledge fungeability are the cause of increasing returns in the generation of knowledge. The governance of the distribution of knowledge instead is affected by decreasing returns to the variety of elements of knowledge. Exchanges in the markets for knowledge are limited by transaction costs. Internalization of different bits of knowledge is constrained by coordination costs. Firms can take advantage of knowledge complexity and fungeability by means of networking in regional space. A NTONELLI C. (2003) Les connaissances complementaires et fongibles: des retombees pour la politique re gionale, Reg. Studies 37 , 595-606. L'indivisibilite de la connaissance est une notion a la fois complexe et fongible. La notion de complexite importe quand la production de nouvelles connaissances exige la combinaison de brins de connaissance divers mais aussi complementaires. La notion de fongibilite importe quand des brins de connaissance s' appliquent a toute une gamme de contextes, de produits et de proce des differents. Et la complexite et la fongibilite de la connaissance causent des rendements croissants dans la production de la connaissance. La gouvernance de la distribution de la connaissance est concernee par des rendements decroissants de divers brins de connaissance. Les e changes dans les marches de la connaissance sont limites par les frais de transaction. L'interiorisation de divers brins de connaissance est limitee par les couts de coordination. Les entreprises peuvent profiter de la complexite et de la fongibilite de la connaissance par moyen de la construction de reseaux dans l'espace regional. A NTONELLI C. (2003) Vervollstandigung und Auswechselbarkeit von Kenntnissen; Implikationen fur Regionalstrategie, Reg. Studies 37 , 595- 606. Komplexitat und Auswechselbarkeit sind zwei spezifische Aspekte der Unteilbarkeit des Wissens. Komplexitat ist wichtig, wenn das Aufkommen neuer Erkenntnisse die Verbindung verschiedener, doch sich zugleich erga nzender Wissensteile erfordert. Auswechselbareit tritt auf, wenn Wissenseinheiten in einer Vielfalt verschiedener Zusammenhange, verschiedener Produkte und verschiedener Prozesse anwendbar sind. Sowohl Komplexitat als auch Auswechselbarkeit von Kenntnissen sind Ursache zunehmenden Gewinns bei der Schaffung von Kenntnissen. Die Kontrolle der Verbreitung von Wissen dagegen fuhrt zu abnehmenden Gewinnerfolgen fur die Vielfalt der Wissenselemente. Durchfuhrungskosten setzen dem Umtausch auf dem Kenntnismarkt Grenzen, Internalisierung einzelner Wissensteile wird durch Koordinationskosten eingeschrankt. Firmen konnen sich die Komplexitat und Auswechselbarkeit von Kenntnissen durch Rechenverbund im regionalen Raum zu Nutze machen.

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  • Cristiano Antonelli, 2003. "Knowledge Complementarity and Fungeability: Implications for Regional Strategy," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6-7), pages 595-606.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:37:y:2003:i:6-7:p:595-606
    DOI: 10.1080/0034340032000108705
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    2. Antonelli, Cristiano, 2004. "To Use or To Sell Technological Knowledge," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis LEI & BRICK - Laboratory of Economics of Innovation "Franco Momigliano", Bureau of Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio 200405, University of Turin.
    3. Ali Maleki & Alessandro Rosiello, 2014. "Which countries benefit most from emerging technological opportunities?," ERSA conference papers ersa14p1118, European Regional Science Association.
    4. Laurent Scaringella, 2022. "Research centres and universities' intellectual capital: a quantitative empirical study of PhD holders' contributions," Post-Print hal-04678949, HAL.
    5. Antonelli, Cristiano, 2003. "The Governance of Technological Knowledge: Strategies, Processes and Public Policies," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis LEI & BRICK - Laboratory of Economics of Innovation "Franco Momigliano", Bureau of Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio 200306, University of Turin.
    6. C. Antonelli, 2007. "Localized Technological Change," Chapters, in: Horst Hanusch & Andreas Pyka (ed.), Elgar Companion to Neo-Schumpeterian Economics, chapter 16, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Samuli Leppälä, 2015. "Economic Analysis Of Knowledge: The History Of Thought And The Central Themes," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 263-286, April.
    8. Temel, Tugrul & Kinlay, Dorjee, 2012. "A Methodology for Information System Formation and Performance," MPRA Paper 42263, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Barbieri, Nicolò, 2016. "Fuel prices and the invention crowding out effect: Releasing the automotive industry from its dependence on fossil fuel," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 222-234.
    10. Nicolò Barbieri, 2015. "Environmental policy and invention crowding out. Unlocking the automotive industry from fossil fuel path dependence," SEEDS Working Papers 0615, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Mar 2015.
    11. Antonelli, Cristiano, 2005. "The Governance Of Localized Knowledge: An Information Economics Approach For The Economics Of Knowledge," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis LEI & BRICK - Laboratory of Economics of Innovation "Franco Momigliano", Bureau of Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio 200502, University of Turin.
    12. Ayten Aysen Kaya, 2006. "Regional Specialization And Location Of Industrial Activity In Turkey," Working Papers 0606, Ege University, Department of Economics.
    13. Pekka Saaskilahti, 2006. "Strategic R&D And Network Compatibility," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(8), pages 711-733.
    14. Saarivirta, Toni & Consoli, Davide, 2007. "Where Did They Go? A Study on Newly Established Universities and Graduate Mobility in Finland," MPRA Paper 11377, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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