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The ties that bind and transform: knowledge remittances, relatedness and the direction of technical change

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates whether high-skilled migration in a sample of OECD countries fosters technological diversification in the migrants’ countries of origin. We focus on migrant inventors and study their role as vectors of knowledge remittances. Further, we particularly analyze whether migrants spark related or unrelated diversification back home. To account for the uneven distribution of knowledge and migrants within the host countries, we break down the analysis at the metropolitan area level. Our results suggest that migrant inventors have a positive effect on the home countries’ technological diversification, particularly for developing countries and technologies with less related activities around—thus fostering unrelated diversification.

Source: Journal of Economic Geography

DOI: 10.1093/jeg/lbab044

Authors: Valentina Di Iasio, Ernest Miguelez

Institutions: University of Southampton, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Bordeaux, Universitat de Barcelona

Language: English

Topic: Economic and Technological Innovation

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Beijing Normal University, Universitat de València, Université de Bordeaux