Regulative distance, international connectivity and innovation systems: Turkey’s links to the EU

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of institutional distance on national innovation systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses social network analysis to analyze the connectivity between national systems of innovation. A regulative distance index is constructed by coding the European Commission progress reports and using weights to account for relevance to research and innovation.

Findings

Reductions in institutional distance (proxied by regulative distance) increase international innovation connectivity between national systems of innovation. More importantly, it leads to increase in both the complexity and resilience of innovation connectivity between countries.

Originality/value

This study provides fresh evidence on the pathways through which institutions affect international business systems. Policy harmonization has strong effects on firm-level corporate strategy.

Citation

Onuklu, A., Darendeli, I. and Mudambi, R. (2021), "Regulative distance, international connectivity and innovation systems: Turkey’s links to the EU", Competitiveness Review, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 231-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-04-2020-0051