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Skill Endowment, Routinisation and Digital Technologies: Evidence from U.S. Metropolitan Areas

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Abstract

Scholars and policy makers frame the debate on labour market polarisation by emphasising the role of key drivers such as international trade and of technological change. The present paper explores these themes from a different perspective, and inquires whether de-routinisation has harmed local innovation capacity. Our empirical study builds on the literature on learning-bydoing and incremental innovation, and focuses on advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs) in US Metropolitan Statistical Areas over the period 1990-2012. Results provide support to the hypothesis that de-routinisation is associated with a generalized decline of local innovation performance, especially in AMTs.

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  • Consoli, Davide & Fusillo, Fabrizio & Orsatti, Gianluca & Quatraro, Francesco, 2020. "Skill Endowment, Routinisation and Digital Technologies: Evidence from U.S. Metropolitan Areas," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis LEI & BRICK - Laboratory of Economics of Innovation "Franco Momigliano", Bureau of Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio 202005, University of Turin.
    • Handle: RePEc:uto:labeco:202005
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    2. Li, George Yunxiong & Ascani, Andrea & Iammarino, Simona, 2024. "The material basis of modern technologies. A case study on rare metals," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(1).
    3. Nelson, John P., 2023. "Differential “progressibility” in human know-how: A conceptual overview," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).

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