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Economic growth, the high-tech sector, and the high skilled: Theory and quantitative implications

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  • Gil, Pedro Mazeda
  • Afonso, Oscar
  • Brito, Paulo

Abstract

Europe's “2020 Strategy” has the main goal of stimulating economic growth by increasing the weight of the high-tech sector and the share of high-skilled workers. However, cross-country European data suggests the relationship between economic growth and both the technology structure and the skill structure is statistically insignificant. We investigate an analytical mechanism that connects these facts by extending a directed-technical-change growth model and taking it to the data. Under high relative barriers to entry into the high-tech sector and scale effects we replicate the empirical relationships. We derive quantitative policy implications on the effects of a reduction of barriers to entry.

Suggested Citation

  • Gil, Pedro Mazeda & Afonso, Oscar & Brito, Paulo, 2019. "Economic growth, the high-tech sector, and the high skilled: Theory and quantitative implications," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 89-105.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:51:y:2019:i:c:p:89-105
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2019.07.003
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    4. Marcin Kedzior & Barbara Grabinska & Konrad Grabinski & Dorota Kedzior, 2020. "Capital Structure Choices in Technology Firms: Empirical Results from Polish Listed Companies," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, September.
    5. Xu, Le & Yang, Lili & Li, Ding & Shao, Shuai, 2023. "Asymmetric effects of heterogeneous environmental standards on green technology innovation: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Growth; High skilled; High tech; Scale effects; Directed technical change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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