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Stability In National Patterns Of Technological Specialisation:Some Historical Evidence From Patent Data

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  • Giovanna Vertova

Abstract

The paper examines the evolution of technological specialisation in a group of selected countries over the period between 1890 and 1990. Technological specialisation of each country is measured by the RTA (Revealed Technological Advantage) index, based on patent statistics, in four different historical periods. Following an evolutionary approach, the hypothesis of cumulativeness and of incremental change are tested with a linear cross-section regression model. The results from regressions and statistical tests enable some conclusions to be drawn.Path-dependence and cuniulativeness in countries' profiles of technological specialisation occurs over a 25-year period. Over longer periods, the size of countries and their ability to either specialise in some niches or broaden out the specialisation across more sectors matters.Diversifying incremental change has found to be a consistent and strong phenomenon among countries, due to countries' natural tendency to move into related technological fields.

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  • Giovanna Vertova, 1999. "Stability In National Patterns Of Technological Specialisation:Some Historical Evidence From Patent Data," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(4), pages 331-354.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:8:y:1999:i:4:p:331-354
    DOI: 10.1080/10438599900000014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giovanni Dosi & Keith Pavitt & Luc Soete, 1990. "The Economics of Technical Change and International Trade," LEM Book Series, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy, number dosietal-1990, November.
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    1. Vertova, Giovanna, 2002. "A historical investigation of the geography of innovative activities," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 259-283, September.
    2. Cho, Seho & Cantwell., John, 2024. "Knowledge sourcing and national technological development: The weak internationalization of R&D in South Korea," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    3. Rinaldo Evangelista & Valentina Meliciani & Antonio Vezzani, 2016. "The Distribution of Technological Activities in Europe: A Regional Perspective," JRC Research Reports JRC102435, Joint Research Centre.
    4. Orkida Ilollari (Findiku) & Gentiana Gjino, 2013. "Which forces drive the banks to new investments? Innovation mechanisms banks use to succeed challenges," Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, Pro Global Science Association, vol. 6(2), pages 121-130, December.
    5. Petralia, Sergio & Balland, Pierre-Alexandre & Morrison, Andrea, 2017. "Climbing the ladder of technological development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5), pages 956-969.
    6. Furman, Jeffrey L. & Hayes, Richard, 2004. "Catching up or standing still?: National innovative productivity among 'follower' countries, 1978-1999," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1329-1354, November.
    7. Furman, Jeffrey L. & Porter, Michael E. & Stern, Scott, 2002. "The determinants of national innovative capacity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 899-933, August.
    8. Ching-Yan Wu, 2014. "Comparisons of technological innovation capabilities in the solar photovoltaic industries of Taiwan, China, and Korea," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 429-446, January.
    9. Gentiana Gjino & Orkida Ilollari (Findiku), 2014. "Mobile banking: near future of banking," Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, Pro Global Science Association, vol. 7(1), pages 43-51, June.
    10. Cantwell, John & Vertova, Giovanna, 2004. "Historical evolution of technological diversification," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 511-529, April.
    11. Rinaldo Evangelista & Valentina Meliciani & Antonio Vezzani, 2015. "The Specialisation of EU Regions in Fast Growing and Key Enabling Technologies," JRC Research Reports JRC98111, Joint Research Centre.
    12. 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.
    13. Rinaldo Evangelista & Valentina Meliciani & Antonio Vezzani, 2019. "Fast Growing and Key Enabling Technologies and their impact on regional growth inEurope," Working Papers 42, Birkbeck Centre for Innovation Management Research, revised Feb 2021.
    14. Mahroum, Sami & Zahradnik, Georg & Dachs, Bernhard, 2017. "Ethnic Inventors: A Critical Survey of the Contribution of People of Middle Eastern Ethnic Backgrounds to the US Innovation System," MPRA Paper 77869, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technological specialisation; Patents; Evolutionary theory; Advanced countries; Cumulativeness; Incremental change JEL Classification: O33; O57; C12;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries
    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General

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