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Domestic Innovation and International Technology Diffusion as Sources of Comparative Advantage

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  • Ana Maria Santacreu
  • Heting Zhu

Abstract

Productivity differences across countries determine patterns of international trade?hence, comparative advantage. We use a multi-industry model of international trade to estimate a measure of industry productivity. We then quantify the effect that domestic innovation and technology diffusion have in explaining differences in productivity across countries and industries. Consistent with standard growth theories, we find the following: (i) Higher-income countries benefit more from domestic innovation than lower-income countries, whereas lower-income countries benefit more from technology diffusion; and (ii) the speed of convergence is larger for those countries and industries that are farther away from the technology frontier. To the extent that productivity differences determine comparative advantage, our findings suggest that domestic innovation and technology diffusion are endogenous sources of comparative advantage.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Maria Santacreu & Heting Zhu, 2018. "Domestic Innovation and International Technology Diffusion as Sources of Comparative Advantage," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 100(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedlrv:00108
    DOI: 10.20955/r.100.317-36
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Finicelli, Andrea & Pagano, Patrizio & Sbracia, Massimo, 2013. "Ricardian selection," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 96-109.
    2. Ana Maria Santacreu, 2017. "Convergence in Productivity, R&D Intensity, and Technology Adoption," Economic Synopses, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, issue 11, pages 1-2.
    3. Santacreu, Ana Maria, 2015. "Innovation, diffusion, and trade: Theory and measurement," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1-20.
    4. Barro, Robert J & Sala-i-Martin, Xavier, 1997. "Technological Diffusion, Convergence, and Growth," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-26, March.
    5. Rosenberg,Nathan, 1983. "Inside the Black Box," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521273671, October.
    6. Jie Cai & Nan Li & Ana Maria Santacreu, 2022. "Knowledge Diffusion, Trade, and Innovation across Countries and Sectors," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(1), pages 104-145, January.
    7. Ariel T. Burstein & Alexander Monge-Naranjo, 2009. "Foreign Know-How, Firm Control, and the Income of Developing Countries," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 124(1), pages 149-195.
    8. Arnaud Costinot & Dave Donaldson & Ivana Komunjer, 2012. "What Goods Do Countries Trade? A Quantitative Exploration of Ricardo's Ideas," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 79(2), pages 581-608.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paul Ilhak Ko, 2020. "Dissecting Trade and Business Cycle Co-movement," 2020 Papers pko1026, Job Market Papers.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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