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Brain Drain or Brain Gain? Technology Diffusion and Learning On-the-job

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  • Thomas Sampson

Abstract

This paper develops a theory of technology transfer when technology is embodied in human capital and learning requires on-the-job communication between managers and workers. Patterns of knowledge diffusion depend on where high knowledge managers work and how much time they allocate to training workers. Managers appropriate the surplus training creates and in the open economy managers face a cross-country trade-off between labor costs and the value of knowledge transfer. Complementarity between country-wide efficiency and managerial knowledge makes learning more valuable in the North meaning that high knowledge managers choose to work in the North and globalization precipitates a brain drain of high knowledge Southern agents to the North. The brain drain reduces learning opportunities in the South and exacerbates cross-country knowledge differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Sampson, 2012. "Brain Drain or Brain Gain? Technology Diffusion and Learning On-the-job," CEP Discussion Papers dp1168, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
  • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1168
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    Cited by:

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    2. Alexander Monge‐Naranjo, 2019. "Markets, Externalities, And The Dynamic Gains Of Openness," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 60(3), pages 1131-1170, August.
    3. Abolfazl Shahabadi & Marzieh Salehi & Seyed Ehsan Hosseinidoust, 2020. "The Impact of Competitiveness on Brain Drain, GMM Panel Approach," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(2), pages 558-573, June.
    4. Hien T. N. Huynh & Phuong V. Nguyen & Hoa D. X. Trieu & Khoa T. Tran, 2021. "Productivity Spillover from FDI to Domestic Firms across Six Regions in Vietnam," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(1), pages 59-75, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technology diffusion; managerial knowledge; learning on-the-job; FDI; brain drain;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • 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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