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Technological Change, Human Capital Structure, and Multiple Growth Paths

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  • Kim, Yong Jin

    (Ajou University)

  • Lee, Jong-Wha

    (Asian Development Bank)

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical model to analyze the effects of technology change on growth rates of income and human capital in the uncertain environments of technology. The uncertainty comes from two sources; the possibility of a technology advance and the characteristics of new technologies. We set up an overlapping generations model in which young agents invest in both width and depth of human capital in order to adopt new technologies. The model develops explicitly the micro-mechanism of the role of human capital in adopting new technologies as well as that of the process of human capital production in uncertain environments. In our model, a higher level for width of human capital relative to the level of depth leads one country to a higher growth path. We also show that an economy can have different growth paths depending on the initial structure of human capital and the uncertainty about the nature of new technologies. In particular, new technologies with more uncertain characteristics may adversely affect human capital accumulation and income growth, leading the economy to a low growth trap.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Yong Jin & Lee, Jong-Wha, 2009. "Technological Change, Human Capital Structure, and Multiple Growth Paths," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 149, Asian Development Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:0149
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    4. Teixeira, Aurora A.C. & Queirós, Anabela S.S., 2016. "Economic growth, human capital and structural change: A dynamic panel data analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(8), pages 1636-1648.
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    6. Cheng Jin & Asif Razzaq & Faiza Saleem & Avik Sinha, 2022. "Asymmetric effects of eco-innovation and human capital development in realizing environmental sustainability in China: evidence from quantile ARDL framework," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 4947-4970, December.
    7. Ha, Joonkyung & Jin Kim, Yong & Lee, Jong-Wha, 2009. "The Optimal Structure of Technology Adoption and Creation: Basic Research vs. Development in the Presence of Distance to Frontier," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 163, Asian Development Bank.
    8. Xiao Dai & Liang Yan & Liu Jianping & JianWu, 2022. "A research on the threshold effect of human capital structure upgrading and industrial structure upgrading—based on the perspective of path dependence," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2645-2674, August.
    9. Khan, Zeeshan & Malik, Muhammad Yousaf & Latif, Kashmala & Jiao, Zhilun, 2020. "Heterogeneous effect of eco-innovation and human capital on renewable & non-renewable energy consumption: Disaggregate analysis for G-7 countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    10. Sara Barcenilla-Visús & José-María Gómez-Sancho & Carmen López-Pueyo & María-Jesús Mancebón & Jaime Sanaú, 2013. "Technical Change, Efficiency Change and Institutions: Empirical Evidence for a Sample of OECD Countries," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 89(285), pages 207-227, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    education; endogenous growth; human capital; technology adoption;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • 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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