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Knowledge, natural resource abundance and economic development: Lessons from New Zealand 1861-1939

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  • Greasley, David
  • Oxley, Les

Abstract

We explore the role of knowledge accumulation in the economic development of a natural resource-rich country. New estimates of commodity output and patenting are used to show New Zealand's exceptionally high incomes before 1939 rested on a knowledge-led utilization of her economic landscape. By investigating the cointegrating and causal relationships among the output of 25 industries we show that a small number of leading industries formed development blocks. In turn most leading industries were driven by knowledge growth as reflected in patent statistics. Knowledge accumulation helped to transform the farming landscape and integrate farm and factory within a New Zealand system of mass production.

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  • Greasley, David & Oxley, Les, 2010. "Knowledge, natural resource abundance and economic development: Lessons from New Zealand 1861-1939," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 443-459, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:47:y:2010:i:4:p:443-459
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    1. Grant Fleming & Frank Liu & David Merrett & Simon Ville, 2022. "Patents, Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Australia, 1860-2010," CEH Discussion Papers 08, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    2. repec:wai:econwp:13/15 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. da Rocha, Bruno T. & Solomou, Solomos, 2015. "The effects of systemic banking crises in the inter-war period," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 35-49.
    4. Simon Ville & Olav Wicken, 2013. "The dynamics of resource-based economic development: evidence from Australia and Norway," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 22(5), pages 1341-1371, October.
    5. Matthew Gibbons & Les Oxley, 2017. "The Relationship of Patenting Applications and Expenditure with Output and Real GDP in Nineteenth Century Colonial New Zealand," Working Papers in Economics 17/05, University of Waikato.
    6. Marc Badia-Miró & Cristián A. Ducoing, 2014. "The long run development of Chile and the Natural Resources curse. Linkages, policy and growth, 1850-1950," UB Economics Working Papers 2014/318, Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa, UB Economics.
    7. Grant Fleming & Frank Liu & David Merrett & Simon Ville, 2022. "Australian Innovative Activity and Offshore Technology 1904 – 2016," CEH Discussion Papers 09, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.

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