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R&D, trade in intermediate inputs, and the comparative advantage of advanced countries

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  • Nishioka, Shuichiro

Abstract

This paper examines the accumulation of physical capital versus knowledge (R&D) capital as a determinant of advanced countries’ comparative advantage. I show that advanced countries are abundant in R&D resources, specialize in knowledge-intensive stages of high-technology industries, and outsource labor-intensive stages of the industries to labor-abundant countries. In contrast, global data on production and trade cannot support the conventional view that advanced countries specialize in and export capital-intensive goods. My results indicate that the accumulation of knowledge capital plays a vital role in explaining advanced countries’ comparative advantage.

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  • Nishioka, Shuichiro, 2013. "R&D, trade in intermediate inputs, and the comparative advantage of advanced countries," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 96-110.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jjieco:v:30:y:2013:i:c:p:96-110
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jjie.2013.10.004
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    2. Brian Tavonga Mazorodze & Devi Datt Tewari, 2018. "Impact of Chinese, Korean and Japanese Innovation Spillover on Labour Productivity in South African Manufacturing," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(5), pages 16-28.
    3. Juan Ricardo Perilla Jimenez, 2019. "Mainstream and evolutionary views of technology, economic growth and catching up," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 823-852, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Heckscher–Ohlin–Vanek; R&D service; Specialization; Production techniques; Foreign outsourcing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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