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Innovation and imitation in a model of North–South trade

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  • Borota, Teodora

Abstract

This paper analyzes the growth and welfare effects of trade openness within a North–South framework that predicts the observed intra-industry trade and the North–South specialization over different quality vintages within product lines. The model is used to re-examine the relationship between the innovation in the North and the imitation lag of the South and to address the implications of the (weak) international Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection. When the imitation technology is modeled as a function of increasing complexity of targeted products, opening to trade increases the growth rate and welfare of both regions, but results in a larger North–South quality gap. While a full catch-up is possible with no protection of ideas flow, but also with no trade, the quality gap is always positive under full economic integration including trade in goods. Stronger IPR protection increases the gap and has a negative effect on the world growth rate and welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Borota, Teodora, 2012. "Innovation and imitation in a model of North–South trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 365-376.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:87:y:2012:i:2:p:365-376
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2012.01.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Gaoju Yang & Yilu Zhang & Xiao Yu, 2020. "Intellectual property rights and the upgrading of the global value chain status," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 185-204, May.
    2. Guido Cozzi & Giammario Impullitti, 2016. "Globalization and Wage Polarization," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 98(5), pages 984-1000, December.
    3. Ragoobur, Verena Tandrayen & Tengur, Neha Devi & Seewooruttun, Bhooteshta, 2021. "South-South Trade: The Potential for Mauritius," Journal of Economic Development, The Economic Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, vol. 46(3), pages 45-65, September.
    4. Guido Cozzi & Giammario Impullitti, 2014. "Globalization, Wage Polarization, and the Unstable Great Ratio," Discussion Papers 2014/13, University of Nottingham, Centre for Finance, Credit and Macroeconomics (CFCM).
    5. Batabyal, Amitrajeet & Nijkamp, Peter, 2014. "Some properties of the technology gap between leading and lagging regions," MPRA Paper 71596, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Kamal Saggi, 2016. "Trade, Intellectual Property Rights, and the World Trade Organization," Vanderbilt University Department of Economics Working Papers 16-00014, Vanderbilt University Department of Economics.
    7. Leite, Duarte N. & Afonso, Óscar & Silva, Sandra T., 2019. "A tale of two countries: Directed technical change, trade and migratory movements," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 173-194.
    8. Triulzi, G., 2014. "Technology life cycle and specialization patterns of latecomer countries: The case of the semiconductor industry," MERIT Working Papers 2014-012, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    9. Nemlioglu, Ilayda & Mallick, Sushanta, 2020. "Does multilateral lending aid capital accumulation? Role of intellectual capital and institutional quality," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    10. Hélène LATZER & Alexandre SIMONS, 2014. "Income distribution, multi-quality firms and patterns of trade," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2014003, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    11. Eugene Beaulieu & Shan Wan, "undated". "International Technology Diffusion via Goods Trade: Theory and Evidence from China," Working Papers 2016-38, Department of Economics, University of Calgary, revised 12 Aug 2016.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    North–South trade; Quality heterogeneity; Endogenous growth; Innovation and imitation; Intellectual Property Rights;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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