Research Division Structural Change

Main activity of the research division is the empirical investigation of several structure-oriented research questions that are related with the development of the Swiss economy. Special attention is given to a disaggregated approach at firm and/or industry level that allows deeper insights into the mechanisms of economic growth and structural change. A specific characteristic of the work of the research division is the use of firm data that are collected by postal surveys based on specifically designed questionnaires. A precondition for this is the availability of a well-maintained firm panel. Firm data can also be aggregated at industry or sector level, thus increasing their utilisation potential.

The Research Division Structural Change comprises the Chair of Applied Economics: Innovation and Internationalisation as well as the research section Innovation. At present, the research activities cover the following fields of research:

• Generation and diffusion of innovation and new technologies and economic performance
• Knowledge and technology transfer between firms and universities
• Human capital formation and economic performance
• Formation and restructuring of firms
• Structural change and economic performance at industry and sector level,
• Internationalisation of firm activities