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Technological Complexity and Economic Growth

Author

Listed:
  • Mihaela Iulia Pintea

    (Florida International University)

  • Peter Thompson

    (Florida International University)

Abstract

Over the last fifty years there have been large secular increases in educational attainment and R&D intensity. The fact that these trends have not stimulated more rapid income growth has been a persistent puzzle for growth theorists. We construct a model of endogenous economic growth in which income growth, R&D intensity, and educational attainment depend on the complexity of new technologies. An increase in complexity that makes passive learning more difficult induces increases in R&D and education, alongside a decline in income growth. Our explanation also predicts a concurrent rise in the skill premium. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Suggested Citation

  • Mihaela Iulia Pintea & Peter Thompson, 2007. "Technological Complexity and Economic Growth," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 10(2), pages 276-293, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:issued:06-21
    DOI: 10.1016/j.red.2006.12.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Pollak, 2014. "Rising R&D Intensity And Economic Growth," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 52(4), pages 1427-1445, October.
    2. Gil, Pedro Mazeda & Iglésias, Gustavo & Guimarães, Luís, 2023. "Endogenous growth and monetary policy: How do interest-rate feedback rules shape nominal and real transitional dynamics?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    3. Sun, Lingyun & Hasi, Muqier, 2024. "Effects of mining sector FDI, environmental regulations, and economic complexity, on mineral resource dependency in selected OECD countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Dan He & Yahua Tang & Luyan Wang & Muhammad Mohsin, 2023. "Can increasing technological complexity help strengthen regional economic resilience?," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4043-4070, December.
    5. Ul-Durar, Shajara & Arshed, Noman & Anwar, Awais & Sharif, Arshian & Liu, Wei, 2023. "How does economic complexity affect natural resource extraction in resource rich countries?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    6. Tom Broekel, 2019. "Using structural diversity to measure the complexity of technologies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, May.
    7. Isaac Ketu & Arsene Mouongue Kelly & Jules-Eric Tchapchet Tchouto, 2024. "Does economic complexity reduce the size of the shadow economy in African countries?," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-27, January.
    8. Bucci, Alberto & Carbonari, Lorenzo & Gil, Pedro Mazeda & Trovato, Giovanni, 2021. "Economic growth and innovation complexity: An empirical estimation of a Hidden Markov Model," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 86-99.
    9. Growiec, Jakub, 2013. "A microfoundation for normalized CES production functions with factor-augmenting technical change," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 2336-2350.
    10. Mewes, Lars & Broekel, Tom, 2022. "Technological complexity and economic growth of regions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(8).
    11. Canh, Nguyen Phuc & Schinckus, Christophe & Thanh, Su Dinh, 2020. "The natural resources rents: Is economic complexity a solution for resource curse?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    12. Jakub Growiec & Ingmar Schumacher, 2013. "Technological opportunity, long-run growth, and convergence," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 65(2), pages 323-351, April.
    13. Ewodo-Amougou, Marcel Rodrigue & Sapnken, Flavian Emmanuel & Mfetoum, Inoussah Moungnutou & Tamba, Jean Gaston, 2023. "Analysis of the relationship between oil rent and crude oil production in Cameroon: Evidence from ARDL and NARDL models," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    14. Nguyen, Canh Phuc & Nguyen, Bach & Duy Tung, Bui & Dinh Su, Thanh, 2021. "Economic complexity and entrepreneurship density: A non-linear effect study," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    15. Pedro Gil, 2013. "Animal spirits and the composition of innovation in a lab-equipment R&D model with transition," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 108(1), pages 1-33, January.
    16. Anca Munteanu, 2015. "Does it Pay Off to be trusting in Romania? Social Capital Effects on Income Distribution," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 5(10), pages 78-85, October.
    17. Nguyen, Canh Phuc, 2022. "Does economic complexity matter for the shadow economy?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 210-227.
    18. Parcu, Pier Luigi & Innocenti, Niccolò & Carrozza, Chiara, 2022. "Ubiquitous technologies and 5G development. Who is leading the race?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(4).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Endogenous growth; Learning; R&D; Educational attainment; Wage inequality; Technological complexity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
    • E10 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - General

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