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What Determines Technology Diffusion Across Frontiers? R&D Content, Human Capital and Institutions

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Listed:
  • Andreas Assiotis

    (University of Cyprus)

  • Marios Zachariadis

    (University of Cyprus)

  • Andreas Savvides

    (Cyprus University of Technology)

Abstract

This paper examines the determinants of international technology diffusion across a sample of 127 countries for the period 1961-2011. We measure technology diffusion by the importation of two capital goods categories that embody different R&D content: computers and metalworking machinery. We find that economic institutions and political institutions have a large and significant effect on computer imports (that embody a higher R&D content) but not for less technologically-intensive types of capital goods such as metalworking machinery. The role of institutions is mirrored by that of human capital. Together, these results highlight the role of institutions and human capital in facilitating embodied technology diffusion through capital goods imports, more than mere capital accumulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Assiotis & Marios Zachariadis & Andreas Savvides, 2015. "What Determines Technology Diffusion Across Frontiers? R&D Content, Human Capital and Institutions," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 35(2), pages 856-870.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-15-00046
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Marios Zachariadis, 2003. "R&D, innovation, and technological progress: a test of the Schumpeterian framework without scale effects," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(3), pages 566-586, August.
    4. Comin, Diego & Mestieri, Martí, 2014. "Technology Diffusion: Measurement, Causes, and Consequences," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 2, pages 565-622, Elsevier.
    5. Caselli, Francesco & Wilson, Daniel J., 2004. "Importing technology," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 1-32, January.
    6. Coe, David T. & Helpman, Elhanan & Hoffmaister, Alexander W., 2009. "International R&D spillovers and institutions," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(7), pages 723-741, October.
    7. La Porta, Rafael & Lopez-de-Silanes, Florencio & Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert, 1999. "The Quality of Government," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 222-279, April.
    8. James A. Robinson & Daron Acemoglu, 2000. "Political Losers as a Barrier to Economic Development," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(2), pages 126-130, May.
    9. de la Grandville,Olivier, 2009. "Economic Growth," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521725200, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cemil Faruk Durmaz & Umurcan Polat, 2020. "Technology Diffusion: Any Further Evidence for Computer Industry?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(1), pages 356-372, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    embodied technology diffusion; capital goods imports; institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity
    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles

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