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Networks, irreversibility and knowledge creation

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  • Patrick Llerena

    (BETA - Bureau d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - UL - Université de Lorraine - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Müge Özman Gossart

    (IMT-BS - MMS - Département Management, Marketing et Stratégie - TEM - Télécom Ecole de Management - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], BETA - Bureau d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - UL - Université de Lorraine - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to highlight the effect of irreversibility in partner choice in inter-firm collaborations. In an environment where firms are bound by contractual constraints regarding the duration of partnerships, how does the tacitness and complexity influence the overall knowledge in the industry? Through an agent based simulation model, we compare the knowledge generation in irreversible and reversible systems in two regimes as tacit and codified. The emerging network structures are also analysed. The results reveal that, in tacit regimes irreversible systems generate more knowledge only when product complexity is at an intermediate level.

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  • Patrick Llerena & Müge Özman Gossart, 2011. "Networks, irreversibility and knowledge creation," Post-Print hal-02438004, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02438004
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    Cited by:

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    3. Yugank Goyal & Klaus Heine, 2021. "Why do informal markets remain informal: the role of tacit knowledge in an Indian footwear cluster," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 639-659, April.
    4. Tur, Elena M. & Azagra-Caro, Joaquín M., 2018. "The coevolution of endogenous knowledge networks and knowledge creation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 424-434.

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