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363-1036-00L 3 Credits DR , MSC D-MTEC
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Empirical Innovation Economics

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Martin Wörter
Does not take place this semester.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:16:57

Abstract

The course focuses on important factors that drive the innovation performance of firms, like innovation capabilities, the use of digital technologies, environmental and innovation policy and it shows how innovation activities relate to firm performance and to the technological dynamic of industries. We also discuss the implications of the findings for effective economic policy-making.

Objective

The course provides students with the basic skills to understand and assess empirically the technological activities of firms and the technological dynamics of industries. In addition, the aim is to promote the understanding of the essential criteria for innovation policy-making. Personal and social skills are also addressed during the course. In particular, there is the possibility to improve communication and presentation skills, the ability to develop arguments for the positions of political representatives, policy-makers, pressure groups, or NGOs in connection with innovation policy-making.

Content

The course consists of two parts. Part I provides an introduction into important topics in the field of the economics of innovation. Part II consists of empirical exercises based on various firm-level data sets, e.g., the KOF Innovation data, data about the digitization of firms, data about environmentally friendly innovations, or patent data. In part I, we will learn about ... a) market conditions that encourage firms to invest in R&D (Research and Development) and develop new products and processes. ... b) the role of competition and market structure for the R&D activities of companies. ...c) how digital and environmentally friendly technologies diffuse among firms. ...d) how the R&D activities of firms are affected by economic crises and how firms finance their R&D activities. ...e) how we can measure the returns to R&D activities. ...f) how environmental policies and innovation policies affect the technological activities of a firm. In part II we will use the KOF Innovation Survey data, patent data, data on digitization of firms, or other longitudinal data sources, to investigate empirically the technological activities of firms in relation to the topics introduced in part I.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Will be provided in the course and in the e-learning environment:https://moodle-app2.let.ethz.ch/course/view.php?id=15120

Literature

Literature will be presented in the course. For an introduction into the economics of innovation see G.M. Peter Swann, The Economics of Innovation - an Introduction, Edward Elgar, 2009. For an overview of empirical innovation studies see W.M. Cohen (2010): Fifty Years of Empirical Studies of Innovation Activities and Performance, in: B.H Hall, N. Rosenberg (eds.), Handbook of Economics of Innovation, volume 1, Elsevier, pp. 129-213.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
DR , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Students write a term paper on a topic of their own choice that relates to the innovation activities of companies and/or technology-driven industrial change. The term paper should be of empirical nature. Optionally, they can use the KOF firm-level data for their term paper. This firm-level data covers the period 1996-2019 and comprises information about the innovation activities of Swiss companies including information about firm performance, export activities, and market characteristics. Moreover, firm-level data on the usage and generation of environmentally friendly technologies and the usage of digital technologies by Swiss firms can be used to write the term paper. The students will give a brief presentation of their term paper towards the end of the term.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Empirical Innovation Economics
Does not take place this semester. Block course
No time listed 17 h semesterly

Offered In