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Innovation, Diffusion, and Trade: Theory and Measurement

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  • Santacreu, Ana Maria

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 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 trade channel has been particularly important in developing countries, accounting for about three-fourths of their growth. Finally, I run counterfactuals analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Santacreu, Ana Maria, 2011. "Innovation, Diffusion, and Trade: Theory and Measurement," MPRA Paper 35311, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:35311
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade; productivity; innovation; technology diffusion; growth;
    All these keywords.

    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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