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On the relations between technological opportunity, specialization and growth

Author

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  • Ana Urraca Ruiz
  • C. Frederico Rocha

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the role of technological specialization in economic growth. Economic literature has stressed that there are theoretical reasons and empirical results to associate trade specialization in high-tech products with growth. There are also theoretical reasons to associate technological specialization in dynamic technological opportunity fields („correct specialization?) with rhythms of technological advance, which is not usually confirmed by empirical studies. Using data from 1985 to 2005 for 38 countries, this paper shows that there is no evidence to confirm that a certain technological specialization implies technical change irreversibility. The paper also confirms the contribution of „correct technological? specialization to growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Urraca Ruiz & C. Frederico Rocha, 2011. "On the relations between technological opportunity, specialization and growth," Working Papers 13-2011, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade de Ribeirão Preto.
    • Handle: RePEc:fea:wpaper:13-2011
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    especialização tecnológica; especialização industrial; oportunidade tecnológica; crescimento; mudança estrutural.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O50 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - General
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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