ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the impact of national cultures on the innovation capacities of European countries. It outlines some facts and figures that provide first insights on the issue in Europe. The chapter describes methodology and provides key results – including regression analysis and cartography. T. G. Taylor and G. K. Wilson explore in greater depth the influence of individualism on innovation rates. They analyse data on 62 countries spanning more than two decades and test several measures of individualism. The cultural analysis of innovation capacity shows that, although there is no thing as an 'innovation culture' per se, innovation is more likely to thrive in certain cultural spaces. Note also that the cultural synthetic indicator can be seen as a clear signal in favour of the influential role of culture to differentiate innovation capacities in Europe. The chapter concludes with some key implications of the findings for possible reforms in Europe.
