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The Dynamics of Knowledge Diversity and Economic Growth

Author

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  • Marcus BERLIANT
  • Masahisa FUJITA

Abstract

How is long run economic growth related to the endogenous diversity of knowledge? We formulate and study a microeconomic model of knowledge creation, through the interactions among a group of heterogeneous R & D workers, embedded in a growth model to address this question. In contrast with the traditional literature, in our model the composition of the research work force in terms of knowledge heterogeneity matters, in addition to its size, in determining the production of new knowledge. Moreover, the heterogeneity of the work force is endogenous. Income to these workers accrues as patent income, whereas transmission of newly created knowledge to all such workers occurs due to public transmission of patent information. Knowledge in common is required for communication, but differential knowledge is useful to bring originality to the endeavor. Whether or not the system reaches the most productive state depends on the strength of the public knowledge transmission technology. Equilibrium paths are found analytically. Long run economic growth is positively related to both the effectiveness of pairwise R & D worker interaction and to the effectiveness of public knowledge transmission.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus BERLIANT & Masahisa FUJITA, 2010. "The Dynamics of Knowledge Diversity and Economic Growth," Discussion papers 10024, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:10024
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcus Berliant & Masahisa Fujita, 2025. "Knowledge creation through multimodal communication," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 76(4), pages 821-890, October.
    2. Sam Tavassoli & Nunzia Carbonara, 2014. "The role of knowledge variety and intensity for regional innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 493-509, August.
    3. Max Nathan, 2011. "Ethnic Inventors, Diversity and Innovation in the UK: Evidence from Patents Microdata," SERC Discussion Papers 0092, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    4. Max Nathan & Neil Lee, 2013. "Cultural Diversity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship: Firm-level Evidence from London," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 89(4), pages 367-394, October.
    5. Neil Lee & Max Nathan, 2011. "Does Cultural Diversity Help Innovation in Cities: Evidence from London Firms," SERC Discussion Papers 0069, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    6. Max Nathan, 2013. "Top Team Demographics, Innovation and Business Performance: Findings from English Firms and Cities 2008-9," SERC Discussion Papers 0129, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    7. Charlie Karlsson & Jonna Rickardsson & Joakim Wincent, 2021. "Diversity, innovation and entrepreneurship: where are we and where should we go in future studies?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 759-772, February.
    8. Siliang Guo & Heng Ma, 2022. "Can the Spatial Function Division of Urbanization Promote Regional Coordinated Development? Evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-28, June.
    9. Todo, Yasuyuki & Matous, Petr & Inoue, Hiroyasu, 2016. "The strength of long ties and the weakness of strong ties: Knowledge diffusion through supply chain networks," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 1890-1906.
    10. Ryusuke Ihara, 2011. "Agglomeration with the pros and cons of labor heterogeneity," ERSA conference papers ersa11p528, European Regional Science Association.
    11. Silvia Sinicropi & Damiano Cortese, 2021. "(Re)Thinking diversity within sustainable development: A systematic mapping study," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 299-309, January.
    12. Pierpaolo Parrotta & Dario Pozzoli & Mariola Pytlikova, 2014. "The nexus between labor diversity and firm’s innovation," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 27(2), pages 303-364, April.
    13. Enrico Berkes & Ruben Gaetani, 2021. "The Geography of Unconventional Innovation," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 131(636), pages 1466-1514.
    14. Marcus Berliant & Chia-Ming Yu, 2015. "Locational Signaling And Agglomeration," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(5), pages 757-773, November.
    15. Berliant, Marcus & Fujita, Masahisa, 2012. "Culture and diversity in knowledge creation," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 648-662.
    16. Kekezi, Orsa, 2021. "Diversity of experience and labor productivity in creative industries," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 55, pages 1-18.
    17. Nathan, Max, 2013. "Top team demographics, innovation and business performance: findings from English firms and cities 2008-9," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 59250, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    18. Fumihiko Isada & Yuriko Isada, 2015. "Trans-nationalisation of a main office in a multinational firm," International Journal of Business and Management, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences, vol. 3(4), pages 15-40, November.
    19. Florian Noseleit & Rene Söllner, 2011. "Diversity of human capital and regional growth," ERSA conference papers ersa10p245, European Regional Science Association.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • 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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