Sectoral Specificities and Structural Heterogeneities in Latin America: The case of the Software Sectors in Cordoba-Argentina and Sao Paulo-Brazil

BORRASTERO, CARINA; MORERO, HERNÁN; URIONA MALDONADO, MAURICIO

Hangzhou

Congreso; 10th Globelics International Conference 2012; 2012

Globelics

There is an increasing interest on Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) in recent decades and the software and related IT services sector is among the most dynamic and innovative KIBS sectors. The aim of this article is to compare the structural characteristics and the relative innovative performance of two Latin American regions, allegedly known as Software Sector Poles: the Province of Córdoba (Argentina) and the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil) from a Sectoral Systems of Innovation perspective. First, we performed a comparative description of both software sectors, based on secondary sources. Then, we performed a quantitative comparative analysis, using primary data based on a survey applied to software firms in Cordoba and secondary data from a survey from the Brazilian Government for Sao Paulo, namely PINTEC. Both regions showed specific structural characteristics which produced two different yet successful, in relative terms, innovation models. From the quantitative comparison however, Cordoba?s SSI showed a better innovative performance. Comparative studies such as this article might open up a new research agenda of sectoral studies and innovative performance in Latin America and other regions.