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Cognitive skills, innovation and technology diffusion

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  • Messinis, George
  • Ahmed, Abdullahi D.

Abstract

This article presents new international estimates of human capital for the period 1970–2003. The new latent index is used to re-examine the Benhabib and Spiegel (2005) model of technology diffusion in a horse-race with the competing indicators of Barro and Lee (2010) and Hanushek and Wößmann (2009). Analysis employs cross-section and panel econometrics, extends beyond the Cobb–Douglas technology, and deals with endogeneity bias. Robust evidence confirms the significance of cognitive skills as a driver of innovation and diffusion. Although there is substantial diversity, the new human capital index has declined in many countries in Africa and the OECD.

Suggested Citation

  • Messinis, George & Ahmed, Abdullahi D., 2013. "Cognitive skills, innovation and technology diffusion," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 565-578.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:30:y:2013:i:c:p:565-578
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2012.10.002
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    2. Pierre‐Richard Agénor & Barış Alpaslan, 2018. "Infrastructure And Industrial Development With Endogenous Skill Acquisition," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(4), pages 313-334, October.
    3. Michele Benvenuti & Luca Casolaro & Elena Gennari, 2014. "Metrics of Innovation: Measuring the Italian Gap," Politica economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 5-50.
    4. Zainab Asif & Radhika Lahiri, 2021. "Dimensions of human capital and technological diffusion," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 941-967, February.
    5. Henry Laverde-Rojas & Juan C Correa & Klaus Jaffe & Mario I Caicedo, 2019. "Are average years of education losing predictive power for economic growth? An alternative measure through structural equations modeling," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, March.
    6. Seenaiah Kale & Badri Narayan Rath, 2018. "Does Innovation Enhance Productivity In Case Of Selected Indian Manufacturing Firms?," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(05), pages 1225-1250, November.
    7. Natalia Shmatko, 2013. "Graduates’ Competencies For The Innovation Labour Market," HSE Working papers WP BRP 13/STI/2013, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    8. Peng, Fei & Anwar, Sajid & Kang, Lili, 2017. "New technology and old institutions: An empirical analysis of the skill-biased demand for older workers in Europe," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-19.
    9. Liu Hailiang & Sara Ravan Ramzani & Hou Cheng Long, 2020. "Antecedents of Firm’s Performance: A Conceptual Model," International Journal of Emerging Trends in Social Sciences, Scientific Publishing Institute, vol. 8(1), pages 25-32.
    10. Rockett, Katharine, 2012. "Perspectives on the knowledge-based society: An introduction to the special issue," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 6, pages 1-22.
    11. Roberta Benini, 2016. "Some key policy issues related to technology change, knowledge and absorption capacities in a country comparison perspective," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 95-112, August.
    12. Mariya Neycheva, 2015. "Impact of Secondary and Tertiary Education on Economic Growth: a Co-integration Model for Bulgaria," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 4, pages 82-106.
    13. Collins, Tracy, 2015. "Imitation: A catalyst for innovation and endogenous growth," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 299-307.
    14. Huang, Yongming & Zhang, Yanan, 2023. "Digitalization, positioning in global value chain and carbon emissions embodied in exports: Evidence from global manufacturing production-based emissions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    15. Sara Barcenilla-Visús & Carmen López-Pueyo, 2018. "Inside Europe: human capital and economic growth revisited," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 45(4), pages 821-847, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; Research skills; Human capital; Growth; Innovation; Diffusion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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