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Innovation for economic performance: The case of Latin American firms

Author

Listed:
  • Arias Ortiz, Elena

    (Education Division, Inter-American Development Bank)

  • Crespi, Gustavo

    (Competitiveness and Innovation Division, Inter-American Development Bank)

  • Tacsir, Ezequiel

    (UNU-MERIT / MGSoG, and Competitiveness and Innovation Division, Inter-American Development Bank)

  • Vargas, Fernando

    (Competitiveness and Innovation Division, Inter-American Development Bank)

  • Zuniga, Pluvia

    (UNU-MERIT / MGSoG)

Abstract

In this paper, a wide range of innovation indicators are analysed in order to describe the innovation behaviour of manufacturing firms in LAC using the recently released Enterprise Surveys 2010. The Enterprise Surveys define innovation rates as the share of firms introducing product and process innovations. The survey also measures the proportion of firms investing in research and development (R&D) and filing for intellectual property rights (IPRs). The aim of this note is to understand the main characteristics of innovative firms and to gather new evidence with regard to the nature of the innovation process in the region. Statistics about the performance of LAC firms are provided using different types of indicators to measure firms' innovative behaviour. In particular, differences in innovation performance and effort by country, sector, and key firm characteristics, such as being a multinational or exporter, are explored. Those firms in LAC that are top R&D performers are identified, and the analysis closes with an exploration of firm characteristics that strongly correlate with the probability of being a top R&D performer in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Arias Ortiz, Elena & Crespi, Gustavo & Tacsir, Ezequiel & Vargas, Fernando & Zuniga, Pluvia, 2013. "Innovation for economic performance: The case of Latin American firms," MERIT Working Papers 2013-028, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2013028
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    Cited by:

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    2. Swati Agrawal & Poonam Singh & Mainak Mazumdar, 2021. "Innovation, Firm Size and Ownership: A Study of Firm Transition in India," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 15-27, June.
    3. Vargas, F. & Guillard, Charlotte & Salazar, Monica & Crespi, G.A., 2022. "Harmonized Latin American innovation Surveys Database (LAIS)," MERIT Working Papers 2022-020, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    4. Guzella, Marcelo & Buchbinder, Felipe & Santana, Verônica, 2024. "Venture capital investment in Latin America: The role of experience, distances, and network features," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Viglioni, Marco Túlio Dinali & Calegario, Cristina Lelis Leal & Aveline, Carlos Eduardo Stefaniak & Ferreira, Manuel Portugal & Borini, Felipe Mendes & Bruhn, Nádia Campos Pereira, 2023. "Effects of intellectual property rights on innovation and economic activity: A non-linear perspective from Latin America," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 359-371.
    6. Sarela Enriquez-Perales & Conrado Diego García-Gómez & José María Díez-Esteban & Edmundo R. Lizarzaburu Bolaños, 2023. "Formal institutions, ICSID arbitration and firm performance: evidence from Latin America," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(2), pages 429-464, June.
    7. Cirera, Xavier & Muzi, Silvia, 2020. "Measuring innovation using firm-level surveys: Evidence from developing countries✰," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(3).
    8. Marco Túlio Dinali Viglioni & Mozar José Brito & Cristina Lelis Leal Calegario, 2020. "Innovation and R&D in Latin America and the Caribbean countries: a systematic literature review," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(3), pages 2131-2167, December.
    9. Valeria Cirillo, 2014. "Patterns of innovation and wage distribution. Do “innovative firms” pay higher wages? Evidence from Chile," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 4(2), pages 181-206, December.
    10. Shalom Levy & Itzhak Tabatchnik & Sagi Akron, 2019. "Product success implications of distant innovative knowledge," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 9(1), pages 69-88, March.
    11. Heredia Pérez, Jorge A. & Kunc, Martin H. & Durst, Susanne & Flores, Alejandro & Geldes, Cristian, 2018. "Impact of competition from unregistered firms on R&D investment by industrial sectors in emerging economies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 179-189.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    innovation; research and development; Latin America; enterprise surveys;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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