Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Cowan, Robin
Author-Email: R.Cowan@merit.unimaas.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT
Author-Name: Jonard, Nicolas
Author-Email: nicolas.jonard@uni.lu
Author-Workplace-Name: University of Luxembourg
Title: If the Alliance Fits . . . : Innovation and Network Dynamics
Abstract: Network formation is often said to be driven by social capital
	 considerations. A typical pattern observed in the empirical data on
	 strategic alliances is that of small world networks: dense subgroups of
	 firms interconnected by (few) clique-spanning ties. The typical argument
	 is that there is social capital value both to being embedded in a dense
	 cluster, and to bridging disconnected clusters. In this paper we develop
	 and analyze a simple model of joint innovation where we are able to
	 reproduce these features, based solely on the assumption that successful
	 partnering demands some intermediate amount of similarity between the
	 partners.
Classification-JEL: D74, D83, D85, L14, O31
Keywords: Network formation, Strategic alliances, Knowledge portfolios,
	 Knowledge transfer
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2008
Number: 022
File-URL: http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2008/wp2008-022.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2008022