Moblility of human resources and systems of innovation: a review of literature

Abstract

In any system of innovation, the constituency of participating individuals plays a large role in determining its strengths and weaknesses. A fundamentally mobile resource, individuals are influenced by a complex nexus of factors prompting their movements. This book is a review of the literature on the topic and is designed as a resource for anyone interested in analysing human mobility and the factors and policies through which it influences innovation. It consists of three sections. The first provides a historical and theoretical background to the study of mobility and its relationship to innovative capacity. The second looks at the empirical measurement of mobility and evidence of its relationship to innovative performance. The third reviews policies used to affect the mobility of highly skilled individuals. Throughout the study, the focus is on the South African experience and its relation to the African and broader international experience.