Work

Trade in ideas Patenting and productivity in the OECD

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: We develop a model of growth and technology diffusion which we fit to aggregate data from OECD countries. Our model implies that each country will eventually grow at the same rate, with its relative productivity determined by its ability to adopt new inventions. Hence productivity levels rather than growth rates better reflect a country's ability to innovate or to adopt new technology. We estimate the model to explain international patterns of productivity and patenting. We find that more than 50% of the growth in each country in our sample derives from innovation in the United States, Germany, and Japan.

Source: Journal of International Economics

DOI: 10.1016/0022-1996(95)01407-1

Authors: Jonathan Eaton, Samuel Kortum

Institutions: Boston University, National Bureau of Economic Research

Language: English

Topic: Economic Growth and Productivity

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,300