Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on Intellectual Capital

Eduardo Tomé
to stress that <strong>the</strong> stock <strong>of</strong> IC <strong>of</strong> a country is different from <strong>the</strong> demand, <strong>the</strong> supply and <strong>the</strong> investment)
and it is also different from <strong>the</strong> need <strong>of</strong> IC. For instance, in a developing country, <strong>the</strong> stock may be low
(non existence <strong>of</strong> qualified people or patents), <strong>the</strong> supply may also be low (low level <strong>of</strong> national
production being made), <strong>the</strong> investment may be small (few expenses on IC being done), <strong>the</strong> demand
may also be small (few companies and organizations wanting to come to <strong>the</strong> country), but <strong>the</strong> need
may be very high (because in order to develop <strong>the</strong> country a very significant increase in IC would be
required). The stock <strong>of</strong> IC is increased by <strong>the</strong> investment and by inflows <strong>of</strong> IC, and decreased by <strong>the</strong>
degeneration <strong>of</strong> knowledge and skills, and by <strong>the</strong> outflows <strong>of</strong> IC.
3.2.11 Flows
Significant flows <strong>of</strong> IC are transferred from a country and to ano<strong>the</strong>r. Such flows may be linked to
Human and Non Human IC. Human IC flows are physically represented by <strong>the</strong> migration <strong>of</strong>
Knowledge workers from a given country to ano<strong>the</strong>r. The various types <strong>of</strong> Non Human IC (patents,
brands, etc.) may also be considered as flows <strong>of</strong> IC. Those flows are economically very important,
because <strong>the</strong>y balance <strong>the</strong> market <strong>of</strong> IC in given a country. When excess demand or not enough
supply exists in a country, IC workers should come from abroad. In practice <strong>the</strong>se movements occur
when a country, like <strong>the</strong> USA, receives highly qualified engineers from India. When <strong>the</strong>re is an excess
in supply and not enough demand, IC workers have a tendency to go abroad. This second type <strong>of</strong>
movements occurs when countries, like Ukraine, export highly qualified people to Western Europe
because <strong>the</strong>ir own economy cannot manage to employ <strong>the</strong>m. When intellectual property is lacking in
a country it may be imported from abroad; when Intellectual Property is <strong>of</strong> good quality it may be
exported to <strong>the</strong> outside world.
3.2.12 Returns
Returns from IC are benefits that are socially perceived. They may include increases in wages or
employment rates, for workers, and in productivity, product quality and exports for firms. At a national
level, <strong>the</strong> IC has an impact in <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> average income; <strong>the</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> living and happiness may
also be regarded as a consequence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> IC. Calculations on <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> various parts in IC in
<strong>the</strong> different economies have already been done. It would be important in <strong>the</strong> Atlas to put <strong>the</strong>m
toge<strong>the</strong>r in a list and to make some useful comparisons.
4. Concluding remarks
4.1 Conclusions
We hope to have explained <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>oretical basis, <strong>the</strong> methodology and <strong>the</strong> usefulness <strong>of</strong> an World
Atlas <strong>of</strong> Intellectual Capital. This paper is <strong>the</strong> first step in a long road in which we hope to continue.
4.2 Suggestions to fur<strong>the</strong>r studies
We plan report our fur<strong>the</strong>r studies in a book, first concerning 60 countries, and <strong>the</strong>n to make o<strong>the</strong>r
editions including as many o<strong>the</strong>r countries as possible. It will be a large team effort. We hope to
deliver <strong>the</strong> first edition (delete <strong>the</strong> space) in 2012. Suggestions and inputs on this matter are
thankfully) welcomed.
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