title: Innovation and Growth: Theoretical Models and Analytical Simulations of Spatial, Clustering and Competition Effects

authors: Bond-Smith, Steven Craig

subjects: Endogenous Growth

abstract: This thesis expands upon endogenous growth theory to incorporate a more detailed understanding of innovation. The similarities in modelling techniques between endogenous growth theory and the New Economic Geography (NEG) in the existing literature creates an opportunity to incorporate features of innovation within a model of both geography and growth. The thesis explores three key areas. Firstly, innovation is based on knowledge spillovers. But knowledge spillovers are also subject to spatial characteristics in its transfer between firms, locations, regions and nations. Similarly, knowledge is used by innovators in many sectors, not just the sector where the knowledge was originally developed. As a result, innovating firms have an incentive to agglomerate alongside other innovators to benefit from each other’s knowledge. The geographic constraints of knowledge spillovers are incorporated into a regional model of growth with creative destruction. However, spillovers between industries are not equal. Industries or firms producing products which are closely related have a strong incentive to locate in close proximity to benefit from related-technology spillovers. Some of these related innovation clusters could potentially be isolated, but sustainable due to knowledge transfer between related firms within the cluster. It is this innovation clustering which could provide the opportunity for distant or isolated economies to sustain high levels of productivity. Lastly, the thesis considers a way in which firms enter a market such that entry is not necessarily available to all potential entrants. This limit on the market supplied by innovating firms is characterised by discrete instead of free entry. Entry by discrete firms allows entering firms to invest in innovation in response to actual (instead of potential) competitors. They are able to escape competition by sustaining incremental innovations. Greater competition in larger markets has greater investment in innovation by all participants. This thesis provides new insights for endogenous growth theory, emphasising the need for policies regarding innovation and economic growth that are industry and location specific.

text: Innovation and Growth: Theoretical Models and Analytical Simulations of Spatial, Clustering and Competition Effects This thesis expands upon endogenous growth theory to incorporate a more detailed understanding of innovation. The similarities in modelling techniques between endogenous growth theory and the New Economic Geography (NEG) in the existing literature creates an opportunity to incorporate features of innovation within a model of both geography and growth. The thesis explores three key areas. Firstly, innovation is based on knowledge spillovers. But knowledge spillovers are also subject to spatial characteristics in its transfer between firms, locations, regions and nations. Similarly, knowledge is used by innovators in many sectors, not just the sector where the knowledge was originally developed. As a result, innovating firms have an incentive to agglomerate alongside other innovators to benefit from each other’s knowledge. The geographic constraints of knowledge spillovers are incorporated into a regional model of growth with creative destruction. However, spillovers between industries are not equal. Industries or firms producing products which are closely related have a strong incentive to locate in close proximity to benefit from related-technology spillovers. Some of these related innovation clusters could potentially be isolated, but sustainable due to knowledge transfer between related firms within the cluster. It is this innovation clustering which could provide the opportunity for distant or isolated economies to sustain high levels of productivity. Lastly, the thesis considers a way in which firms enter a market such that entry is not necessarily available to all potential entrants. This limit on the market supplied by innovating firms is characterised by discrete instead of free entry. Entry by discrete firms allows entering firms to invest in innovation in response to actual (instead of potential) competitors. They are able to escape competition by sustaining incremental innovations. Greater competition in larger markets has greater investment in innovation by all participants. This thesis provides new insights for endogenous growth theory, emphasising the need for policies regarding innovation and economic growth that are industry and location specific.

year: 2014

title: Remote sensing of freshwater environments: Trial application on the lower Waikato River.

authors: Ashraf, Muhammad Salman

subjects: remote sensing data

abstract: The overall goal of the study is to evaluate multi-sensor and multi-spectral satellite data to characterise different freshwater habitat zones of large rivers and lakes of the Waikato region.  The earlier evaluation of different sources of remotely sensed data suggested the implementation of sub-pixel classification on the QuickBird satellite image of Tongariro River delta region.  The current research is further expanding the same research on other freshwater environments within the Waikato region.

text: Remote sensing of freshwater environments: Trial application on the lower Waikato River. The overall goal of the study is to evaluate multi-sensor and multi-spectral satellite data to characterise different freshwater habitat zones of large rivers and lakes of the Waikato region.  The earlier evaluation of different sources of remotely sensed data suggested the implementation of sub-pixel classification on the QuickBird satellite image of Tongariro River delta region.  The current research is further expanding the same research on other freshwater environments within the Waikato region.

year: 2009-06

title: Te Aka Roa o Te Oranga, the far reaching vines of wellness: The development of a framework to evaluate alcohol and drug treatment for Māori

authors: Robertson, Paul

subjects: Maori

abstract: The impact of alcohol and other drug
problems for Māori is well documented.
Substance use has been implicated in a
range of physical and mental health
problems, and a variety of negative social
statistics such as high rates of imprisonment. To date there has been
little systematic documentation of treatment
practices, and limited operationalisation of
Māori health frameworks. The evaluation
of the outcomes of alcohol and other drug
treatments is an area in which there is a
paucity of documentation, in terms of
methods and frameworks for evaluation,
and actual data. Te Aka Roa O Te Oranga (TAROTO)
was developed from a range of projects
undertaken by the National Addiction
Centre. The TARATO evaluation framework
embraces a holistic perspective: developed
to examine the interaction between the
client, whānau, practitioner, and
service/organisation. The aim of the
framework is to clarify the complex
relationships and interactions between
stakeholders within the context of
treatment. It will also help to elucidate the
strengths and weaknesses of individual
services. Within this framework, a range of
indicators and outcomes of “successful
treatment” will be explored. The current project is the first phase of
a broader project that will make a
significant contribution to improvements in
Māori health via further developing
effective treatments of alcohol and other
drug related problems.

text: Te Aka Roa o Te Oranga, the far reaching vines of wellness: The development of a framework to evaluate alcohol and drug treatment for Māori The impact of alcohol and other drug
problems for Māori is well documented.
Substance use has been implicated in a
range of physical and mental health
problems, and a variety of negative social
statistics such as high rates of imprisonment. To date there has been
little systematic documentation of treatment
practices, and limited operationalisation of
Māori health frameworks. The evaluation
of the outcomes of alcohol and other drug
treatments is an area in which there is a
paucity of documentation, in terms of
methods and frameworks for evaluation,
and actual data. Te Aka Roa O Te Oranga (TAROTO)
was developed from a range of projects
undertaken by the National Addiction
Centre. The TARATO evaluation framework
embraces a holistic perspective: developed
to examine the interaction between the
client, whānau, practitioner, and
service/organisation. The aim of the
framework is to clarify the complex
relationships and interactions between
stakeholders within the context of
treatment. It will also help to elucidate the
strengths and weaknesses of individual
services. Within this framework, a range of
indicators and outcomes of “successful
treatment” will be explored. The current project is the first phase of
a broader project that will make a
significant contribution to improvements in
Māori health via further developing
effective treatments of alcohol and other
drug related problems.

year: 2003