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Learning and Growth

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Author Info
Boyan Jovanovic

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Abstract

In this survey, I discuss four sources of growth of knowledge: research, schooling, learning by doing, and training. In trying to disentangle what is important, I emphasize the following facts: (1) even the most advanced countries spend far more on adoption of existing technologies than on inventing new ones, and (2) countries frequently adopt 'dominated' technologies. These facts provide a useful background for evaluating the different theories. They will also sharpen the point that it is important to distinguish between technology and human capital. The conclusion is simply this: In generating world growth, the world's research outlays are an essential ingredient. But for most agents the decision determining growth is one of whether to adopt existing technologies. We have perhaps underemphasized this in our modeling so far. Moreover, the handful of models that I survey contains a bewildering array of diverse engines of growth, most of which are not based on any firm evidence.

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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number 5383.

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Date of creation: Dec 1995
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Publication status: published as Advances in Economics, Edited by David Kreps and Kenneth Wallis, Cambridge University Press: 1996.
Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:5383

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O3 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change

References listed on IDEAS
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Karnit Flug & Zvi Hercowitz, 2000. "Equipment Investment and the Relative Demand for Skilled Labor: International Evidence," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 3(3), pages 461-485, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  2. Goh, Ai-Ting & Olivier, Jacques, 2001. "Learning by Doing, Trade in Capital Goods and Growth," Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES) Discussion Paper 2001002, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES). [Downloadable!]
  3. Paul A. de Hek, 2004. "On Growth and Fluctuations: The Option to Adobt New Technology," DEGIT Conference Papers c009_017, DEGIT, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade. [Downloadable!]
  4. Jeremy Greenwood & Boyan Jovanovic, 2000. "Accounting for Growth," RCER Working Papers 475, University of Rochester - Center for Economic Research (RCER). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  5. Manuel Santos, . "On Some Criteria for the Formulation and Testing of Economic Growth Models," Working Papers 2133359, Department of Economics, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University. [Downloadable!]
  6. Ronaldo A. Arraes & Vladimir Kühl Teles, 2003. "Differences in Long Run Growth Path Between Latin American and Developed Countries: Empirical Evidences," Anais do XXXI Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 31th Brazilian Economics Meeting] c10, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pósgraduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics]. [Downloadable!]
  7. Diego Restuccia, 1998. "Technology Adoption and Schooling: Amplifier Income Effects of Policies Across Countries," UWO Department of Economics Working Papers 9810, University of Western Ontario, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  8. Canton, E.J.F. & Groot, H.L.F. de & Nahuis, R., 1999. "Vested interest and resistance to technology adoption," Discussion Paper 106, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
  9. Ai Ting Goh & Jacques Olivier, 2000. "Learning by Doing, Trade in Capital Goods and Growth," Econometric Society World Congress 2000 Contributed Papers 0854, Econometric Society. [Downloadable!]
  10. Jeremy Greenwood, 1999. "The Third Industrial Revolution," Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, issue Q II, pages 2-12. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  11. Ryo Horii, 2005. "Wants and Past Knowledge: Growth Cycles with Emerging Industries," Development and Comp Systems 0504007, EconWPA, revised 10 Jan 2006. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  12. Raouf, BOUCEKKINE & Blanca, MARTINEZ & Cagri, SAGLAM, 2003. "The Development problem under embodiment," Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES) Discussion Paper 2003006, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES). [Downloadable!]
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  13. José Ramón Ruiz-Tamarit, . "Multiplicity, Overtaking and Convergence in the Lucas Two-Sector Growth Model," Working Papers 2002-17, FEDEA. [Downloadable!]
  14. Roberto Ellery Jr, 1999. "Learning-by-Doing and Schooling," HEW 9904001, EconWPA. [Downloadable!]
  15. BOUCEKKINE, Raouf & RUIZ-TAMARIT Ramon, 2001. "Capital Maintenance and Investment : Complements or Substitutes ?," Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES) Discussion Paper 2001012, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES). [Downloadable!]
  16. R. Boucekkine & H.C. Saglam & T. Vallee, 2002. "Optimal switching time of technologies," Computing in Economics and Finance 2002 64, Society for Computational Economics. [Downloadable!]
  17. Jati Sengupta, 2004. "Dynamic Efficiency with Learning by Doing," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 381-395, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  18. Boucekkine, Raouf & Martinez, Blanca, 1999. "Machine Replacement, Technology Adoption and Convergence," Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES) Discussion Paper 1999025, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES). [Downloadable!]
  19. Raouf, BOUCEKKINE & Cagri, SAGLAM & Thomas, VALLEE, 2002. "Technology adoption under embodiment : A two-stage optimal control approach," Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES) Discussion Paper 2003007, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  20. Christian Groth, 2004. "Innovation and growth: What have we learnt from the robustness debate?," Discussion Papers 04-29, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics, revised Nov 2004. [Downloadable!]
  21. Giulio, NICOLETTI, 2003. "Use costs in a two-R&D-sector model," Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES) Discussion Paper 2003023, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES). [Downloadable!]
  22. Argandoña, Antonio, 2001. "Nueva economía y el crecimiento económico, La," IESE Research Papers D/437, IESE Business School. [Downloadable!]
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