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Reference-Dependent Utility in an Industrial Cluster

Author

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  • Olsson, Ola

    (Department of Economics, School of Economics and Commercial Law, Göteborg University)

Abstract

This article tries to explain the exceptional levels of knowledge creation in certain industrial clusters, levels that are seemingly higher than what is implied by the usual models of atomistic agents who do not internalize externalities. For this purpose, we introduce reference-dependent utility into an OLG model of an industrial cluster where agents allocate resources between consumption and knowledge investments and where the latter spills over to the rest of the cluster. It is shown that if the agents in the cluster have altruistic preferences, they will internalize the externalities from knowledge investments and create more knowledge than if they were atomistic or considered their neighbors to be rivals.

Suggested Citation

  • Olsson, Ola, 2003. "Reference-Dependent Utility in an Industrial Cluster," Working Papers in Economics 87, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics, revised 30 Jun 2003.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0087
    as

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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2077/2804
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    industrial cluster; reference-dependent utility; knowledge spillovers; relative consumption;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R13 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General Equilibrium and Welfare Economic Analysis of Regional Economies
    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General

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