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Why Trade When You Can Transfer the Technology: Revisiting Smith and Ricardo

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  • Rajat Acharyya
  • Sugata Marjit

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility of international technology transfer in lieu of trade in a model with absolute and comparative advantage. Countries having absolute advantage in producing a good may offer that technology to a possible trading partner against a fee and both the countries might gain. Thus, gains from trade might be dominated by gains from technology transfer depending on the extent of comparative and absolute advantages. We provide detailed conditions under which free trade equilibrium will be pre-empted by technology transfer. Such an avenue of fruitful exchange remains unexplored in the Ricardian model of trade.

Suggested Citation

  • Rajat Acharyya & Sugata Marjit, 2021. "Why Trade When You Can Transfer the Technology: Revisiting Smith and Ricardo," CESifo Working Paper Series 9164, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9164
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kabiraj, Tarun & Marjit, Sugata, 2003. "Protecting consumers through protection: The role of tariff-induced technology transfer," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 113-124, February.
    2. Kabiraj, Tarun & Marjit, Sugata, 1993. "International technology transfer under potential threat of entry : A Cournot-Nash framework," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 75-88, October.
    3. Hong Hwang & Sugata Marjit & Cheng-Hau Peng, 2016. "Trade liberalization, technology transfer, and endogenous R&D," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 68(4), pages 1107-1119.
    4. Uday Bhanu Sinha, 2010. "Strategic licensing, exports, FDI, and host country welfare," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 62(1), pages 114-131, January.
    5. Iraklis KOLLIAS & Sugata MARJIT & Nickolas J. MICHELACAKIS, 2019. "Public Investment, Taxation And Transfer Of Technology," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 90(3), pages 441-456, September.
    6. Kamal Saggi, 2002. "Trade, Foreign Direct Investment, and International Technology Transfer: A Survey," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 17(2), pages 191-235, September.
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    8. Mukhopadhyay, Sankar & Kabiraj, Tarun & Mukherjee, Arijit, 1999. "Technology transfer in duopoly The role of cost asymmetry," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 363-374, November.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    technology transfer; absolute advantage; comparative advantage; Smith; Ricardo;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General

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