Training and Innovation

Citation

Bauernschuster S, Falck O & Heblich S (2009) Training and Innovation. Journal of Human Capital, 3 (4), pp. 323-353. https://doi.org/10.1086/653713

Abstract
Research analyzing the importance of human capital for innovation usually focuses on secondary and tertiary education. This paper takes a different perspective by focusing on in‐firm training. We argue that continuous training guarantees access to leading‐edge knowledge and thus increases a firm's propensity to innovate. Using German establishment‐level data, we show a strong association between lagged continuous training and innovation. Applying instrumental variable methods, we cautiously argue that the association between training and innovation is indeed a causal effect. In the quest for a relevant and valid instrument, we exploit legal regulations of the German Works Constitution Act.

Journal
Journal of Human Capital: Volume 3, Issue 4