@phdthesis{Lejpras2009, author = {Lejpras, Anna}, title = {Essays on the Determinants of Firm Innovativeness, Performance, and Internationalization}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:521-opus-307}, school = {Europa-Universit{\"a}t Viadrina Frankfurt}, year = {2009}, abstract = {This dissertation investigates the forces driving firm innovativeness, performance, and internationalization, focusing on the effects of firm location by employing survey data from approximately 6,200 East German firms. The impact of firm environment is captured through three aspects: locational conditions, collaboration activities, and competition situation. What makes this thesis unique is that it uses firms' perceptions of the importance and quality of 15 different locational factors to assess the influence of locational characteristics. This approach takes into consideration that not all locational factors affect the performance and operations of all firms equally. The analysis also includes firm-related factors that allow consideration of firm heterogeneity in terms of size, age, and industry affiliation.}, subject = {Innovation}, language = {en} }