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Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Economics pp 379–393Cite as

Absorptive Capacity and Social Capital: Innovation and Environmental Regulation

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Part of the book series: Energy Systems ((ENERGY))

Abstract

Norwegian paper and pulp mills are subject to strict environmental regulation. The mills conduct research and development for reducing pollution. Absorptive capacity indicates their competence. Firms are part of a social network of connections with external actors that include other paper and pulp mills, suppliers, customers, research institutes, and universities that help them in developing technologies. These relations represent their social capital. Some firms have access to more and better resources than other firms. Measuring firms’ absorptive capacity and access to social capital, we analyze their success in reducing pollution levels. There is a strong interaction effect between absorptive capacity and social capital. The effectiveness of social capital depends on absorptive capacity, and absorptive capacity is not effective without social capital.

In collaboration with Rolf Golombek, The Frisch center, The University of Oslo, and Ken Harris, Melior.

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Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Woody Powell, Simon Rodan, and other participants at the SCANCOR seminar for helpful comments, and also Joel Baum, Brian Silverman, Kristina Dahlin, and other participants at the research seminar at Rotman School of Business, Toronto. Howard Aldrich, Henrich Greve, Arne Kalleberg, and two reviewers for this book have given valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Strategy and Management, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH), Breiviksveien 40, 5045, Bergen, Norway

    Arent Greve

  2. Fakultet for økonomi og samfunnskunnskap, Universitetet i Agder, Kristiansand, Norway

    Arent Greve

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  1. Arent Greve
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Correspondence to Arent Greve .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Business Administration, Department of Science and Management Sci, Norwegian School of Economics and, Helleveien 30, Bergen, 5045, Norway

    Endre Bjørndal

  2. , Department of Science and Management Sci, Norwegian School of Economics and Busine, Helleveien 30, Bergen, 5045, Norway

    Mette Bjørndal

  3. Dept. Industrial & Systems, Engineering, University of Florida, Weil Hall 303, Gainesville, 32611-6595, Florida, USA

    Panos M. Pardalos

  4. Business Administration, Dept Science, Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics and, Helleveien 30, Bergen, 5045, Norway

    Mikael Rönnqvist

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Greve, A. (2010). Absorptive Capacity and Social Capital: Innovation and Environmental Regulation. In: Bjørndal, E., Bjørndal, M., Pardalos, P., Rönnqvist, M. (eds) Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Economics. Energy Systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12067-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12067-1_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-12066-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-12067-1

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