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Quality Growth: From Process to Product Innovation along the Path of Development

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  • Esteban Jaimovich

Abstract

We propose a demand-driven growth theory where process innovations and product innovations fulfil sequential roles along the growth path. Process innovations must initially set the economy on a positive growth path. However, process innovations alone cannot fuel growth forever, as their benefits display an inherent tendency to wane. Product innovations are therefore also needed for the economy to keep growing in the long run. When the economy fails to switch from a growth regime steered by process innovation to one driven by product innovation, R&D effort and growth will eventually come to a halt. However, when the switch to a product innovation growth regime does take place, a virtuous circle gets ignited. This happens because product innovation effort not only keeps growth alive when incentives to undertake process innovation diminish, but it also regenerates profit prospects from further process innovation effort.

Suggested Citation

  • Esteban Jaimovich, 2017. "Quality Growth: From Process to Product Innovation along the Path of Development," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 518, Collegio Carlo Alberto.
  • Handle: RePEc:cca:wpaper:518
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    3. Jing Wan & Jie Zhang, 2023. "R&D subsidies, income taxes, and growth through cycles," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 76(3), pages 827-866, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Endogenous Growth; Process and Product Innovation; Nonhomothetic Preferences; Quality Ladders.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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