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Geographical Concentration and the Dynamics of Countries' Specialization in Technologies

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Abstract

This paper examines the empirical dynamics of countries' technological specialization in six technology fields using distribution dynamics, a methodology involving non-parametric estimation of probability distributions and Markov stochastic kernels for each field. Innovation in all the fields is highly localized and the degree of concentration is fairly stable in time. The cross-country distributions of a specialization index in all fields, but electronics, reveal no marked specialization profile for a good number of countries. The estimated stochastic kernels show persistence of within field countries' specialization levels around or below the mean, while high specialization levels revert towards lower values (with the exception, again, of electronics). This strengthens the case for absorptive capacity. Electronics show some distinctive properties: they have the highest degree of geographical concentration and numerous small countries among those specialized; they also are the least mobile technology field. In a Schumpeterian perspective, this is in line with "creative accumulation".

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  • Maria Luisa Mancusi, 2000. "Geographical Concentration and the Dynamics of Countries' Specialization in Technologies," KITeS Working Papers 125, KITeS, Centre for Knowledge, Internationalization and Technology Studies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy, revised Aug 2001.
    • Handle: RePEc:cri:cespri:wp125
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Beyer, Jürgen, 2006. "Verfestigte institutionelle Vielfalt? Die komparativen Vorteile koordinierter Ökonomien und die Internationalisierung von Unternehmen," MPIfG Working Paper 06/8, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    2. Quintás, Mari­a A. & Vázquez, Xosé H. & Garci­a, José M. & Caballero, Gloria, 2008. "Geographical amplitude in the international generation of technology: Present situation and business determinants," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 1371-1381, September.
    3. Palmberg, Christopher & Nikulainen, Tuomo, 2006. "Industrial Renewal and Growth through Nanotechnology ? - An Overview with Focus on Finland," Discussion Papers 1020, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    4. Nikulainen, Tuomo & Pajarinen, Mika & Palmberg, Christopher, 2005. "Patents and Technological Change - A Review with Focus on the FEPOCI Database," Discussion Papers 984, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    5. Nikulainen, Tuomo & Hermans, Raine & Kulvik, Martti, 2006. "Patent citations indicating present value of the biotechnology business," Discussion Papers 1048, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    6. Rinaldo Evangelista & Valentina Meliciani & Antonio Vezzani, 2016. "The Distribution of Technological Activities in Europe: A Regional Perspective," JRC Research Reports JRC102435, Joint Research Centre.
    7. Stolpe, Michael, 2003. "Distribution dynamics in European venture capital," Kiel Working Papers 1191, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    8. Kotiranta, Annu & Tahvanainen, Antti-Jussi & Adriaens, Peter & Ritola, Maria, 2015. "From Cleantech to Cleanweb – The Finnish Cleantech Space in Transition," ETLA Reports 43, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    9. Urraca-Ruiz, Ana, 2013. "The ‘technological’ dimension of structural change under market integration," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-18.
    10. Klinger, Bailey & Lederman, Daniel, 2006. "Innovation and export portfolios," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3983, The World Bank.
    11. Koski, Heli & Pajarinen, Mika, 2015. "Mobility of ideas for innovation: The role of inventor-specific knowledge flows," ETLA Working Papers 27, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    12. Rinaldo Evangelista & Valentina Meliciani & Antonio Vezzani, 2015. "The Specialisation of EU Regions in Fast Growing and Key Enabling Technologies," JRC Research Reports JRC98111, Joint Research Centre.
    13. Rinaldo Evangelista & Valentina Meliciani & Antonio Vezzani, 2019. "Fast Growing and Key Enabling Technologies and their impact on regional growth inEurope," Working Papers 42, Birkbeck Centre for Innovation Management Research, revised Feb 2021.
    14. Basheer Kalash, 2022. "Agglomeration and Technological Specialization," GREDEG Working Papers 2022-04, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Distribution dynamics; General Markov chains; Revealed comparative advantage; Technological change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries

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