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Innovation, Diffusion, and Trade: Theory and Measurement

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  • Ana Maria Santacreu

    (INSEAD and Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research)

Abstract

Growth and imports are correlated across countries, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. I develop a multi-country model in which imports and growth are endogenous variables connected by technological innovations and their international diffusion through trade. Fitting the model to data on innovation, productivity, and trade in varieties, I find that most of the growth-imports correlation is explained by these two mechanisms. I also find that the adoption channel has been particularly important in developing countries, accounting for about three-fourths of their growth. Finally, I run counterfactuals analysis, in which exogenous shocks such as a decrease in trade barriers or a decrease in adoption barriers induce a positive correlation between growth and import expansion.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Maria Santacreu, 2012. "Innovation, Diffusion, and Trade: Theory and Measurement," Working Papers 192012, Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:hkm:wpaper:192012
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies

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