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Catching up with the technological frontier:Micro-level evidence on growth and convergence

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  • Leonardo Iacovone
  • Gustavo A. Crespi

Abstract

In this article we study how firm heterogeneity influences productivity catching up using plant-level data from Mexico. The article addresses three issues: first, it evaluates the process of convergence towards the global versus the local technological frontier in a middle-income country such as Mexico. Second, it systematically evaluates the role of technological efforts in determining the speed of convergence towards each of these technological frontiers. Third, it assesses the role of openness and trade integration in determining the speed of convergence and presents a horse race between integration and technological effort in explaining the determinants of heterogeneity in influencing the process of convergence toward both the domestic and the global technological frontier. Our results suggest that building firm-level technological capabilities is important for catching up with the global frontier. A policy focused on trade alone will facilitate convergence towards the best technological practices available locally, but it will fall short of encouraging convergence with the global frontier. Copyright 2010 The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Associazione ICC. All rights reserved., Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Iacovone & Gustavo A. Crespi, 2010. "Catching up with the technological frontier:Micro-level evidence on growth and convergence," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 19(6), pages 2073-2096, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:19:y:2010:i:6:p:2073-2096
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/icc/dtq057
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    Cited by:

    1. Thanh Tam Nguyen-Huu & Khac Minh Nguyen & Quoc Tran-Nam, 2022. "The role of environmental practices and innovation in total factor productivity convergence -Evidence from small-and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Vietnam," Post-Print hal-04248191, HAL.
    2. Keita Oikawa, 2022. "Innovation Systems and Digital Transformation," Chapters, in: Fukunari Kimura & Keita Oikawa (ed.), The Comprehensive Asia Development Plan (CADP) 3.0: Towards an Integrated, Innovative, Inclusive, and Sustainable Economy, chapter 8, pages 237-276, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    3. Dolores An~o´n Higo´n & Juan A. Man~ez & Mari´a E. Rochina-Barrachina & Amparo Sanchis & Juan A. Sanchis-Llopis, 2017. "The determinants of firms’ convergence to the European TFP frontier," Working Papers 1707, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
    4. Dolores An~o´n Higo´n & Juan A. Man~ez & Mari´a E. Rochina-Barrachina & Amparo Sanchis & Juan A. Sanchis, 2018. "Follow the leader: Evidence of the Productivity catch-up of European firms," Working Papers 1806, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.
    5. Delera, Michele & Pietrobelli, Carlo & Calza, Elisa & Lavopa, Alejandro, 2022. "Does value chain participation facilitate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in developing countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    6. Shubin Yang & Sandra Lancheros & Chris Milner, 2021. "Technological Catch-up to the National and Regional Frontier: Firm-level Evidence for India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(8), pages 1303-1320, August.
    7. Dolores Añón Higón & Juan A. Máñez & María E. Rochina-Barrachina & Amparo Sanchis & Juan A. Sanchis, 2022. "Firms’ distance to the European productivity frontier," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 12(2), pages 197-228, June.
    8. Chiacchio, Francesco & Gradeva, Katerina & Lopez-Garcia, Paloma, 2018. "The post-crisis TFP growth slowdown in CEE countries: exploring the role of Global Value Chains," Working Paper Series 2143, European Central Bank.
    9. Giovanni Dosi & Sébastien Lechevalier & Angelo Secchi, 2010. "Interfirm heterogeneity: nature, sources and consequences for industrial dynamics. An introduction," Post-Print hal-00642680, HAL.
    10. Klein, Michael A., 2019. "Establishment productivity convergence and the effect of foreign ownership at the frontier," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 245-260.
    11. Escribano, Álvaro & Stucchi, Rodolfo, 2008. "Catching up in total factor productivity through the business cycle : evidence from Spanish manufacturing surveys," UC3M Working papers. Economics we085125, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía.
    12. Daan Freeman & Leon Bettendorf & Harro van Heuvelen & Gerdien Meijerink, 2021. "The contribution of business dynamics to productivity growth in the Netherlands," CPB Discussion Paper 427, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    13. Rybacki, Jakub & Kowalski, Arkadiusz Michał, 2018. "Moderate innovator trap – Does convergence of innovative potential occur?," MPRA Paper 90671, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Guo, Yanting & Zheng, Gang, 2019. "How do firms upgrade capabilities for systemic catch-up in the open innovation context? A multiple-case study of three leading home appliance companies in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 36-48.
    15. Paul Conway, 2016. "Achieving New Zealand's productivity potential," Working Papers 2016/01, New Zealand Productivity Commission.
    16. Claussen, Jörg & Essling, Christian & Kretschmer, Tobias, 2015. "When less can be more – Setting technology levels in complementary goods markets," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 328-339.
    17. Álvaro Escribano & Rodolfo Stucchi, 2014. "Does recession drive convergence in firms’ productivity? Evidence from Spanish manufacturing firms," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 339-349, June.
    18. Alexander Kopka & Dirk Fornahl, 2024. "Artificial intelligence and firm growth — catch-up processes of SMEs through integrating AI into their knowledge bases," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 63-85, January.

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