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A Rising Tide Raises All Ships: Trade and Diffusion as Conduits of Growth

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  • Eaton, Jonathan
  • Kortum, Samuel

Abstract

Measures of innovative activity show it to be concentrated in a small number of countries. Yet the benefits of innovation are experienced broadly. International trade is one conduit through which the benefits of innovation in one country can flow abroad. Technological diffusion is another. In this paper we develop a model of technology and trade to explore these alternatives. An implication of the model is that increased trade will itself affect observed productivity as well 85 real wages. We analyse data on trade, research, and productivity from five major industrial economies in light of the model. Trade alone can explain observed cross-sectional patterns of innovation and productivity quite well. Nonetheless trade fails to explain why productivity growth is 85 high in countries where less inventive activity occurs. An implication is that diffusion rather than trade is responsible for the similarity in growth rates across major industrial countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Eaton, Jonathan & Kortum, Samuel, 1996. "A Rising Tide Raises All Ships: Trade and Diffusion as Conduits of Growth," Institute for Economic Development 315950, Boston University.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:bouied:315950
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.315950
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Coe, David T. & Helpman, Elhanan, 1995. "International R&D spillovers," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 859-887, May.
    2. Eaton, Jonathan & Kortum, Samuel, 1997. "Engines of growth: Domestic and foreign sources of innovation," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 235-259, May.
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    2. Eaton, Jonathan & Kortum, Samuel, 1997. "Technology and Bilateral Trade," Institute for Economic Development 315947, Boston University.
    3. David Mayer Foulkes., 2007. "Subdesarrollo y globalización," Ensayos Revista de Economia, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Facultad de Economia, vol. 0(1), pages 155-192, May.

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