The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities

This study focuses on how optimism translates into innovation outcomes. While the link has been established at a microeconomic level, its translation to an aggregate economic effect is still an open question. Empirical analysis draws from a yearly sample of 42 (mainly OECD) countries between 2000 an...

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Main Authors: Daniel Mahn, Cong Wang, Danielle Kent, Chris Heaton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Innovation & Knowledge
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X24001045
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author Daniel Mahn
Cong Wang
Danielle Kent
Chris Heaton
author_facet Daniel Mahn
Cong Wang
Danielle Kent
Chris Heaton
author_sort Daniel Mahn
collection DOAJ
description This study focuses on how optimism translates into innovation outcomes. While the link has been established at a microeconomic level, its translation to an aggregate economic effect is still an open question. Empirical analysis draws from a yearly sample of 42 (mainly OECD) countries between 2000 and 2020 to test the effect of economic optimism on R&D measures from both the consumer's and producer's points of view at the aggregate level. Using modern econometric techniques that address potential endogeneity issues, the results suggest that economic optimism supports an increase in innovation activity and economic performance but not an increase in innovation outcomes, such as more patent production. The implication is that an economically optimistic environment is an important contribution to a nation's entrepreneurial ecosystem. This novel insight shows that firms need not specifically recruit optimistic individuals to reap the benefits of the optimism effect. Policies that encourage economic optimism can orchestrate an environment in which the benefits of the optimism effect are realized, independent of the individual personality traits of its citizens.
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issn 2444-569X
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publishDate 2024-10-01
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spelling doaj-art-c84f94e00b6648ceb4efada2fd97cbf22025-08-20T02:21:07ZengElsevierJournal of Innovation & Knowledge2444-569X2024-10-019410056510.1016/j.jik.2024.100565The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activitiesDaniel Mahn0Cong Wang1Danielle Kent2Chris Heaton3Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Concepcion, Edmundo Larenas 219, Concepcion, Chile; Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Universidad Del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile; Department of Economics, Macquarie University, 4 Eastern Road, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia; Corresponding author at: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Concepcion, Edmundo Larenas 219, Concepcion, Chile.Department of Economics, Macquarie University, 4 Eastern Road, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, AustraliaDepartment of Economics, Macquarie University, 4 Eastern Road, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia; Discipline of Finance, The University of Sydney Business School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaDepartment of Economics, Macquarie University, 4 Eastern Road, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, AustraliaThis study focuses on how optimism translates into innovation outcomes. While the link has been established at a microeconomic level, its translation to an aggregate economic effect is still an open question. Empirical analysis draws from a yearly sample of 42 (mainly OECD) countries between 2000 and 2020 to test the effect of economic optimism on R&D measures from both the consumer's and producer's points of view at the aggregate level. Using modern econometric techniques that address potential endogeneity issues, the results suggest that economic optimism supports an increase in innovation activity and economic performance but not an increase in innovation outcomes, such as more patent production. The implication is that an economically optimistic environment is an important contribution to a nation's entrepreneurial ecosystem. This novel insight shows that firms need not specifically recruit optimistic individuals to reap the benefits of the optimism effect. Policies that encourage economic optimism can orchestrate an environment in which the benefits of the optimism effect are realized, independent of the individual personality traits of its citizens.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X24001045E70G40O30
spellingShingle Daniel Mahn
Cong Wang
Danielle Kent
Chris Heaton
The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities
Journal of Innovation & Knowledge
E70
G40
O30
title The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities
title_full The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities
title_fullStr The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities
title_full_unstemmed The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities
title_short The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities
title_sort optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities
topic E70
G40
O30
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X24001045
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