Immigration and innovation

Arbeitspapier

We combine firm-level innovation data with area-level Census data to examine the relationship between local workforce characteristics, especially the presence of immigrants and local skills, and the likelihood of innovation by firms. We examine a range of innovation outcomes, and test the relationship for selected subgroups of firms. We find a positive relationship between local workforce characteristics and average innovation outcomes in labour market areas, but this is accounted for by variation in firm characteristics such as firm size, industry, and research and development expenditure. Controlling for these influences, we find no systematic evidence of an independent link between local workforce characteristics and innovation.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 5686

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives ; Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location: General
• Subject: innovation ; immigration ; local labour market

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Maré, David C. ; Fabling, Richard ; Stillman, Steven
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2011

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/51590
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-201105173225
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET