Outline of a COST Action Comparative Analysis of Enterprise Data

1. Outline of a COST ActionComparative Analysis of Enterprise Data Industry Dynamics, Firm Performance, and Worker Outcomes Stefan Bender (Institute for Employment Research, Germany) John Earle (Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, USA, and Central European University, Hungary)

2. Outline • Motivation • Basic Information about COST • Cost Action ISO701: Comparative Analysis of Enterprise Data: Industry Dynamics, Firm Performance, and Worker Outcomes

3. Purpose of the Action • Develop a network of leading researchers to: • work with national statistical agencies on improving firm-level databases • collaborate on new comparative research using improved data to study firm-level sources of economic growth and consequences for workers

4. Importance of Firm-Level Data • Firms (businesses, factories, shops) are major actors in economic theory. Make decisions on: • quantities and types of outputs • investment and employment • location, entry, exit • imports and exports • R&D, innovation, technology adoption…. • Yet, until recently, firm-level data have hardly been analysed in economic research. They are the research frontier.

5. Improving the Data Sources • National agencies have collected firm-level data for years. Need to improve: • availability for research (confidentiality issues) • usefulness of concepts and measures • combination of different sources within countries • international comparability • Special concerns for new member states, neighboring transition countries -> capacity-building.

6. The Value of a Comparative Approach • Studies of single countries cannot answer questions about the “wealth of nations” (relative success of different economies) • International comparisons exploit variation in policies and institutions and differences in economic outcomes (productivity, growth, jobs, living standards, inequality) • Establish beneficial standards for data and analysis in each country • Establishments are not stopping on national boarders (multi-nationals).

7. Why is the Network Needed? • Research using firm-level information is in its very early stages • Very little research has involved cross-national comparisons • Data availability/comparability problems • Researchers work in isolation • Network of researchers and data suppliers necessary to overcome these barriers

14. Why COST? • National statistical agencies produce data; national governments fund research • Lack of coordination, collaboration, and comparison reduces usefulness • Value-added of more data without more coordination is limited • COST promotes a flexible, open, pan-European vehicle for improving data and achieving a critical mass of comparative research

15. Countries signed in Signatures • Bulgaria • Denmark • Finland • Germany • Hungary • Latvia • Netherlands • Romania • Spain • United Kingdom Intentions to sign • Italy • Norway

16. Research Focus • Comparative research on firm-level data is the frontier in empirical economics. • Three main areas demand attention: • Industry dynamics • Firm performance • Worker outcomes

17. Microeconomic Foundations of Economic Growth • Industry dynamics • use comprehensive firm-level panel data • measure entry, growth, decline, and exit • analyse policy determinants (adjustment costs) • Firm performance • measure firm-level productivity • estimate policy-relevant determinants • How do each of these contribute to aggregate economic growth?

18. Microeconomic Consequences of Growth: Outcomes for Workers • When industries and firms do well, do workers benefit? • Measure employment, wages, layoffs • Use linked employer-employee data • Estimate effects of productivity-enhancing policies on workers

22. How will the Network be Organized? • MC: • John Earle (Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, USA, and Central European University, Hungary) • David J. Brown (Heriot Watt University, UK) • WGs • Industry Dynamics: Eric Bartelsman (Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands) • Firm Performance: Jonathan Haskel (Queen Marry University of London, UK) • Worker Outcomes: Álmos Telegdy (Central European University, Hungary and Institute of Economics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences) • Data Quality and Access: Stefan Bender (Institute for Employment Research, Germany)

23. Achieving the Objectives • Think tank for early stage and under-represented researchers • International conferences with open calls • Workshops on focused topics • Action website • Working papers, books, journal publications • SC for each conference • SC to mentor ESRs and ensure gender balance • Partnership of statistical agencies in establishing standards for collection and dissemination

24. Analysis of Firm-Level Data in the Evolution of Social Science • Transformational moment in economics • Coordinating framework essential for progress • Spillover benefits for other disciplines • Develop long-lasting partnerships between: • researchers • agencies • countries • Self-sustaining platform for future development

25. Who Will Benefit? • Economists • Other social scientists • Early stage researchers • Policy makers and analysts • Other EU&COST Programmes • Data suppliers • Businesses • New member and neighboring states

28. Contact • John Earle: earlej@ceu.hu • Stefan Bender: stefan.bender@iab.de • http://www.cost.esf.org/index.php?id=233&action_number=IS0701