Markus Balzat
Benchmarking in the Context of National Innovation Systems: Purpose
and Pitfalls
Abstract:
Recent contributions to the literature of national innovation systems
(NIS) reflect growing research interests in cross-country comparisons, in
particular so in performance comparisons across national innovation systems.
Although such comparisons differ significantly in terms of methodological
aspects, most of them are labeled as benchmarking studies. But not only
the use of this technical term can be problematical; the very task of comparing
NIS is now under debate as well. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss
the usefulness of benchmarking studies carried out within the framework of
national innovation systems (NIS benchmarking).
JEL: O10, O30, P51
Paper:
Paper available as pdf-file.
Beitrag Nr. 238, Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsreihe, Institut für
Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Augsburg
Contact:
Markus
Balzat, University of Augsburg, Department of Economics, D-86135 Augsburg,
Germany, phone +49-821-598-4174, fax +49-821-598-4229
v.
K., 14.05.2003