title: The impact of cultural diversity on firm innovation: evidence from Dutch micro-data

authors: Ozgen, Ceren

subjects: immigration

abstract: An important question for firms and policy makers is whether the recruitment of foreign workers can boost innovation. Migration studies have demonstrated positive economic impacts of cultural diversity on productivity and innovation at the regional level, but the impacts at firm level are less well known. Merging data from four different sources, provided by Statistics Netherlands, we construct and analyze a unique linked employer-employee micro dataset of 4582 firms that includes qualitative information on firm innovation. We consider both the number of immigrants these firms employ and their cultural diversity. Potential endogeneity of migrant employment is addressed by an instrumental variables approach that accounts for the past geographic distribution of immigrants and the past culinary diversity of the municipality the firm is located in. We find robust evidence that firms employing relatively more migrants are less innovative. However, there is evidence of integration in that this effect is generally less strong or even absent for second generation immigrants. Moreover, firms employing a more diverse foreign workforce are more innovative, particularly in terms of product innovations. The benefits of diversity for innovation are more apparent in sectors employing relatively more skilled immigrants.

text: The impact of cultural diversity on firm innovation: evidence from Dutch micro-data An important question for firms and policy makers is whether the recruitment of foreign workers can boost innovation. Migration studies have demonstrated positive economic impacts of cultural diversity on productivity and innovation at the regional level, but the impacts at firm level are less well known. Merging data from four different sources, provided by Statistics Netherlands, we construct and analyze a unique linked employer-employee micro dataset of 4582 firms that includes qualitative information on firm innovation. We consider both the number of immigrants these firms employ and their cultural diversity. Potential endogeneity of migrant employment is addressed by an instrumental variables approach that accounts for the past geographic distribution of immigrants and the past culinary diversity of the municipality the firm is located in. We find robust evidence that firms employing relatively more migrants are less innovative. However, there is evidence of integration in that this effect is generally less strong or even absent for second generation immigrants. Moreover, firms employing a more diverse foreign workforce are more innovative, particularly in terms of product innovations. The benefits of diversity for innovation are more apparent in sectors employing relatively more skilled immigrants.

year: 2013

title: User-guided Disambiguation for Semantic-enriched Search

authors: Ren, Xinning

abstract: In this thesis, we develop, implement and evaluate a strategy for user-guided disambiguation for semantic-enriched search. We use the prototype system Capisco that combines some features of traditional text-based search engines and semantic search engines. Unlike many semantic search approaches that require formulating queries in quite complex semantic languages, the Capisco system is a keyword-based search engine. 

In this work, we focus on the user-guided disambiguation which helps to capture the users’ information needs. The user-guided disambiguation developed in this thesis explores the semantic meanings for a user-provided keyword and displays these to the users for selection. We explored three different orderings in which the possible keyword meanings may be shown. Using our newly-developed disambiguation interface, the user selects one or several of these meanings from the list offered. The selected semantic meanings are then transferred to the search engine to identify matching documents. 

This thesis provides an analysis of related work on search interfaces in semantic search, and in methods for semantic disambiguation. We developed the concept of user-guided disambiguation and implemented this concept in a prototype that explored three interface variations. We executed a user study on the three interface alternatives. Finally, we discuss the insights gained during this project, compare our approach to existing literature, and explore possible future work.

text: User-guided Disambiguation for Semantic-enriched Search In this thesis, we develop, implement and evaluate a strategy for user-guided disambiguation for semantic-enriched search. We use the prototype system Capisco that combines some features of traditional text-based search engines and semantic search engines. Unlike many semantic search approaches that require formulating queries in quite complex semantic languages, the Capisco system is a keyword-based search engine. 

In this work, we focus on the user-guided disambiguation which helps to capture the users’ information needs. The user-guided disambiguation developed in this thesis explores the semantic meanings for a user-provided keyword and displays these to the users for selection. We explored three different orderings in which the possible keyword meanings may be shown. Using our newly-developed disambiguation interface, the user selects one or several of these meanings from the list offered. The selected semantic meanings are then transferred to the search engine to identify matching documents. 

This thesis provides an analysis of related work on search interfaces in semantic search, and in methods for semantic disambiguation. We developed the concept of user-guided disambiguation and implemented this concept in a prototype that explored three interface variations. We executed a user study on the three interface alternatives. Finally, we discuss the insights gained during this project, compare our approach to existing literature, and explore possible future work.

year: 2015

title: La gouvernance des rivières en Nouvelle-Zélande : une solution élégante ?

authors: Te Aho, Linda

subjects: Water governance,

abstract: Governance of Water in New Zealand: An Elegant Solution? This chapter is grounded in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand while drawing on larger references, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, the Rio+20 Declaration and constitutional provisions for Rights of Nature. The chapter analyses a proposed new model for the contentious issue of freshwater governance in New Zealand based on responsible use which also addresses the complex world of state-Māori relations.

text: La gouvernance des rivières en Nouvelle-Zélande : une solution élégante ? Governance of Water in New Zealand: An Elegant Solution? This chapter is grounded in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand while drawing on larger references, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, the Rio+20 Declaration and constitutional provisions for Rights of Nature. The chapter analyses a proposed new model for the contentious issue of freshwater governance in New Zealand based on responsible use which also addresses the complex world of state-Māori relations.

year: 2018