Our Research
Laura Rosendahl Huber
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Czibor, Rosendahl Huber and Koudstaal (2017) Are entrepreneurs lone wolves? An experimental analysis of sorting into teams
Despite sizable potential gains from partnerships, the majority of new ventures are founded by solo entrepreneurs. We conduct a large-scale lab-in-the-field experiment to explore whether this phenomenon is attributable to entrepreneurs’ particular preference for individual work. We find entrepreneurs to be as likely to opt for revenue sharing as non-entrepreneurs. Adding a joint asset allocation choice to the team option, we find no evidence that entrepreneurs are more averse to sharing decision rights than others. Our results call into question the widely-held belief that entrepreneurs are ‘lone wolves’ with exceptionally strong preferences for working individually rather than in teams. |
Hanna Hottenrott
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Hottenrott, Lopes-Bento and Veugelers (2016) Direct and Cross Scheme Effects in a Research and Development Subsidy Program
Research and product or process development are two distinct, yet complementary innovation activities. Making use of a specific grant-based policy design that explicitly distinguishes between research projects, development projects, and mixed R&D projects, this study estimates the direct and cross scheme effects on both research and development investments of recipient firms. Positive cross scheme effects can be expected when research and development activities are complementary and financing constraints are more binding for research than for development projects. The results show that while research grants yield positive direct effects on net research spending as well as positive cross effects on development, development grants are less effective for stimulating development expenditures. The positive effect of development grants on overall R&D stems from cross effects of development grants on research expenditures. These results suggest a higher priority for subsidies targeting research projects. |
Simone Schüller
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Poy and Schüller (2016) "Internet and Voting in the Web 2.0 Era: Evidence from a Local Broadband Policy"
This article analyzes the impact of a local broadband expansion policy on electoral turnout and party vote share. We exploit a unique policy intervention involving staged broadband infrastructure installation across rural municipalities in the Province of Trento (Italy), thus generating a source of exogenous (spatial and temporal) variation in the provision of advanced broadband technology (ADSL2+). Using a difference-in-differences strategy, we find positive effects of broadband availability on overall electoral turnout at national parliamentary elections. Party vote share analysis shows significant shifts across the ideological spectrum. These shifts, however, are likely transitory rather than persistent. Placebo estimations support a causal interpretation of our results. We provide further evidence that broadband availability is linked to actual adoption in that the broadband policy increased overall Internet and broadband take-up among private households. |
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