Workshop on Firm Heterogeneity in Technical Change

Aim and scope

The aim of this workshop is to discuss with other researchers in the area recent findings and new developments in the analysis of technological change, firm heterogeneity in particular. 

Most economic studies assume homogeneous firms following an identical path of technological change. For example, in many theoretical and empirical studies in the fields of productivity, economic growth and international trade, technological change is -implicitly or explicitly- assumed to be (Hicks-)neutral. Yet, firm heterogeneity is by now well-established in the theoretical and empirical literature, implying that profit opportunities may differ between firms, even within the same industry. Hence, if technological change is the consequence of purposeful activities to increase profitability, then one may ask if the pattern of technological change is not likely to differ between firms in function of their characteristics. The goal of this workshop is to gain insight into this heterogeneity. 

Keynote addresses at the workshop will be given by Johannes Van Biesebroeck (Department of Economics, KU Leuven), Emmanuel Dhyne (National Bank of Belgium and Université de Mons and Laurens Cherchye (Department of Economics, KU Leuven).

Program

Program 

Registration

Participation to the workshop is free but attendance is limited to 50 people on a first-come first-serve basis. If you are interested to participate at this workshop, please register by notifying Mrs. Sandy Van Laer (sandy.vanlaer@ugent.be). 

Practical Information

The workshop will be held in Ghent at the faculty of economics

Tweekerkenstraat 2, Faculty Council Room, second floor. 

We’re looking forward to meet you in Ghent.