IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/apecpp/v47y2025i2p515-555.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Innovation and water productivity: Empirical evidence from water‐related patents

Author

Listed:
  • Linus Nyiwul
  • Zhining Hu
  • Niraj P. Koirala

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of innovation in the water sector on water productivity using a global sample of 81 countries from 2000 to 2019. We derive theoretical parameters in the Cobb–Douglas production framework and estimate these parameters using fixed‐effects panel instrumental variable and system generalized method of moments estimations. Contrary to theoretical predictions, we find that water‐related innovation has a significant negative effect on water productivity. This suggests the presence of a productivity paradox in the water sector. In our analysis, this paradox is consistent across various modeling specifications and alternative estimations, marking a unique phenomenon not previously observed outside the information and communication technologies sector. Furthermore, the paradox is more pronounced in countries of the global north compared with those in the global south, a divergence we attribute to differences in economic structures, technological capabilities, and resource allocations. These findings underscore the complexity of the role water‐related innovation plays in water productivity and highlight the need for tailored approaches to address region‐specific challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Linus Nyiwul & Zhining Hu & Niraj P. Koirala, 2025. "Innovation and water productivity: Empirical evidence from water‐related patents," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(2), pages 515-555, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:47:y:2025:i:2:p:515-555
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13498
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13498
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/aepp.13498?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Malik Shahzad Shabbir & Nusrat Yaqoob, 2019. "The impact of technological advancement on total factor productivity of cotton: a comparative analysis between Pakistan and India," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 8(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Pierre Mohnen & Bronwyn H. Hall, 2013. "Innovation and Productivity: An Update," Eurasian Business Review, Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 3(1), pages 47-65, Spring.
    3. Arellano, Manuel & Bover, Olympia, 1995. "Another look at the instrumental variable estimation of error-components models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 29-51, July.
    4. Yu, Winston & Uhlenbrook, Stefan & von Gnechten, Rachel & van der Bliek, Julie, 2021. "Can water productivity improvements save us from global water scarcity?. White paper," IWMI Books, Reports H050553, International Water Management Institute.
    5. Ali, M.H. & Talukder, M.S.U., 2008. "Increasing water productivity in crop production--A synthesis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 95(11), pages 1201-1213, November.
    6. Emek Basker, 2012. "Raising the Barcode Scanner: Technology and Productivity in the Retail Sector," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(3), pages 1-27, July.
    7. Turral, Hugh & Svendsen, Mark & Faures, Jean Marc, 2010. "Investing in irrigation: Reviewing the past and looking to the future," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(4), pages 551-560, April.
    8. Pfeiffer, Lisa & Lin, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2014. "Does efficient irrigation technology lead to reduced groundwater extraction? Empirical evidence," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 189-208.
    9. Fisher-Vanden, Karen & Jefferson, Gary H. & Jingkui, Ma & Jianyi, Xu, 2006. "Technology development and energy productivity in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(5-6), pages 690-705, November.
    10. Dinar, Ariel & Zilberman, David, 1991. "The economics of resource-conservation, pollution-reduction technology selection: The case of irrigation water," Resources and Energy, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 323-348, December.
    11. Parteka, Aleksandra & Kordalska, Aleksandra, 2023. "Artificial intelligence and productivity: global evidence from AI patent and bibliometric data," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    12. Polák, Petr, 2017. "The productivity paradox: A meta-analysis," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 38-54.
    13. Crespi, Gustavo & Zuniga, Pluvia, 2012. "Innovation and Productivity: Evidence from Six Latin American Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 273-290.
    14. Jeffrey M Wooldridge, 2010. "Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262232588, December.
    15. Susanne M. Scheierling & David O. Tréguer, 2018. "Beyond Crop per Drop," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 29922.
    16. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2021. "General diagnostic tests for cross-sectional dependence in panels," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 13-50, January.
    17. Amy Kahn & Moses Sithole & Yasser Buchana, 2022. "An analysis of the impact of technological innovation on productivity in South African manufacturing firms using direct measures of innovation," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 90(1), pages 37-56, March.
    18. John C. Driscoll & Aart C. Kraay, 1998. "Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimation With Spatially Dependent Panel Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 80(4), pages 549-560, November.
    19. Pierre Mohnen & Bronwyn Hall, 2013. "Innovation and Productivity: An Update," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 3(1), pages 47-65, June.
    20. Benhabib, Jess & Spiegel, Mark M., 1994. "The role of human capital in economic development evidence from aggregate cross-country data," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 143-173, October.
    21. Sebastian Kripfganz & Vasilis Sarafidis, 2021. "Instrumental-variable estimation of large-T panel-data models with common factors," Stata Journal, StataCorp LLC, vol. 21(3), pages 659-686, September.
    22. Nyiwul, Linus & Koirala, Niraj P., 2024. "Renewable energy policy performance and technological innovation in Africa: A Bayesian estimation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    23. Daniel S. Hamermesh & Sharon M. Oster, 2002. "Tools or Toys? The Impact of High Technology on Scholarly Productivity," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(4), pages 539-555, October.
    24. Sam Mitra, 2019. "Depletion, technology, and productivity growth in the metallic minerals industry," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 32(1), pages 19-37, April.
    25. Linus Nyiwul, 2023. "Demand for water innovation: evidence on wastewater technology adoption in thirteen African countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(5), pages 3383-3410, October.
    26. Peter Debaere & Amanda Kurzendoerfer, 2017. "Decomposing US Water Withdrawal since 1950," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(1), pages 155-196.
    27. Distefano, Tiziano & Kelly, Scott, 2017. "Are we in deep water? Water scarcity and its limits to economic growth," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 130-147.
    28. Hasan, Rana, 2002. "The impact of imported and domestic technologies on the productivity of firms: panel data evidence from Indian manufacturing firms," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 23-49, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mamkhezri, Jamal, 2025. "Assessing price elasticity in US residential electricity consumption: A comparison of monthly and annual data with recession implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    2. Caravaggio, Nicola, 2020. "A global empirical re-assessment of the Environmental Kuznets curve for deforestation," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Peppel-Srebrny, Jemima, 2021. "Not all government budget deficits are created equal: Evidence from advanced economies' sovereign bond markets," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Naima Chrid & Sami Saafi & Mohamed Chakroun, 2021. "Export Upgrading and Economic Growth: a Panel Cointegration and Causality Analysis," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 811-841, June.
    5. Dilla, Diana, 2017. "Staatsverschuldung und Verschuldungsmentalität [Public Debt and Debt Mentality]," MPRA Paper 79432, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Prianto Budi Saptono & Gustofan Mahmud & Intan Pratiwi & Dwi Purwanto & Ismail Khozen & Lambang Wiji Imantoro & Maria Eurelia Wayan, 2024. "Book-Tax Differences during the Crisis: Does Corporate Social Responsibility Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-38, August.
    7. Eduardo Polloni-Silva & Diogo Ferraz & Flávia de Castro Camioto & Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto & Herick Fernando Moralles, 2021. "Environmental Kuznets Curve and the Pollution-Halo/Haven Hypotheses: An Investigation in Brazilian Municipalities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, April.
    8. Shreya Pal, 2024. "The International Capital Flows and Domestic Savings–domestic Investment Nexus: A Comparative Evidence Between Heterogeneous Developing Regions," South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, , vol. 13(2), pages 169-212, December.
    9. Biswajit Patra & Narayan Sethi, 2024. "Does digital payment induce economic growth in emerging economies? The mediating role of institutional quality, consumption expenditure, and bank credit," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 57-75, January.
    10. Cândida Ferreira, 2020. "Globalisation and Economic Growth: A Panel Data Approach," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 73(2), pages 187-236.
    11. Afonso, António & Jalles, João Tovar, 2019. "The Fiscal consequences of deflation: Evidence from the Golden Age of Globalization," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 129-147.
    12. Eugen Dimant & Tim Krieger & Daniel Meierrieks, 2024. "Paying Them to Hate US: The Effect of US Military Aid on Anti-American Terrorism, 1968–2018," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(663), pages 2772-2802.
    13. Capolupo, Rosa, 2009. "The New Growth Theories and Their Empirics after Twenty Years," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 3, pages 1-72.
    14. Vasilis Sarafidis & Tom Wansbeek, 2012. "Cross-Sectional Dependence in Panel Data Analysis," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 483-531, September.
    15. Federica Cappelli, 2024. "Unequal contributions to CO2 emissions along the income distribution within and between countries," Working Papers 2024.06, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    16. Moutsianas, Konstantinos A. & Kosmidou, Kyriaki, 2016. "Bank earnings volatility in the UK: Does size matter? A comparison between commercial and investment banks," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 137-150.
    17. Théo METZ, 2024. "New fiscal transparency index and public debt borrowing costs," Working Papers of BETA 2024-50, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    18. John M. Foster & Jacob Fowles, 2018. "Ethnic Heterogeneity, Group Affinity, and State Higher Education Spending," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 59(1), pages 1-28, February.
    19. Caravaggio, Nicola, 2022. "Economic growth and forest transition in Latin America," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    20. Obaike John Ojeka & Tajudeen Egbetunde & Gideon Oseibibi Okoduwa & Aisha Omobolanle Ojeyode & Mumuni Jimoh & Gideon Oladele Ogunbowale, 2024. "Moderating effect of institutional quality on the influence of debt on investment in sub-Saharan Africa," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:47:y:2025:i:2:p:515-555. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)2040-5804 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.