This paper investigates whether differences in absorptive capacity help to explain cross-country differences in the level of productivity. We utilise stochastic frontier analysis to investigate two potential sources of this inefficiency: differences in human capital and R&D for nine industries in twelve OECD countries over the period 1973-92. We find that inefficiency in production does indeed exist and it depends upon the level of human capital of the country’s workforce. Evidence that the amount of R&D an industry undertakes is also important is less robust.
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Paper provided by National Institute of Economic and Social Research in its series NIESR Discussion Papers with number
202.
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