Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Akcomak, Semih
Author-Email: akcomak@merit.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT 
Author-Name: ter Weel, Bas
Author-Email: b.terweel@merit.unimaas.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT
Title: Social Capital, Innovation and Growth: Evidence from Europe 
Abstract: This paper investigates the interplay between social capital, innovation 
	 and economic growth in the European Union. We identify innovation as an 
	 important mechanism that transforms social capital into economic growth. 
	 In an empirical investigation of 102 European regions in the period 
	 1990-2002, we show that higher innovation performance is conducive to 
	 economic growth and that social capital affects growth indirectly by 
	 fostering innovation. Our estimates suggest that there is only a limited 
	 role for a direct effect of social capital on economic growth. 
Classification-JEL: O1; O3; O52; Z13    
Keywords: Social capital, Innovation, Economic growth, European Union
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2006
Number: 040
File-URL: http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2006/wp2006-040.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2006040