The Circulation of Ideas in Firms and Markets

62 Pages Posted: 11 Apr 2011 Last revised: 19 Apr 2023

See all articles by Thomas F. Hellmann

Thomas F. Hellmann

University of Oxford - Said Business School; University of Oxford - Said Business School; European Corporate Governance Initiative

Enrico C. Perotti

University of Amsterdam - Finance Group; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: April 2011

Abstract

Novel early stage ideas face uncertainty on the expertise needed to elaborate them, which creates a need to circulate them widely to find a match. Yet as information is not excludable, shared ideas may be stolen, reducing incentives to innovate. Still, in idea-rich environments inventors may share them without contractual protection. Idea density is enhanced by firms ensuring rewards to inventors, while their legal boundaries limit idea leakage. As firms limit idea circulation, the innovative environment involves a symbiotic interaction: firms incubate ideas and allow employees leave if they cannot find an internal fit; markets allow for wide ideas circulation of ideas until matched and completed; under certain circumstances ideas may be even developed in both firms and markets.

Suggested Citation

Hellmann, Thomas F. and Perotti, Enrico C., The Circulation of Ideas in Firms and Markets (April 2011). NBER Working Paper No. w16943, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1806116

Thomas F. Hellmann (Contact Author)

University of Oxford - Said Business School ( email )

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University of Oxford - Said Business School ( email )

Park End Street
Oxford, OX1 1HP
Great Britain
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HOME PAGE: http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/community/people/thomas-hellmann

European Corporate Governance Initiative ( email )

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Enrico C. Perotti

University of Amsterdam - Finance Group ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.fee.uva.nl/fm/people/pero.htm

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

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