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The effect of technological intensity on international trade

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  • Xiong, Tingting

Abstract

This paper aims to show the impact of technological intensity (R&D intensity) on trade. Using a detailed product-level dataset of 118 countries from 1988 to 2006 and the Poisson pseudo-maximum-likelihood (PPML) estimator, this paper provides robust evidence that technological intensity promotes exports mainly through increasing the variety of exports. More specifically, a 1-percentage point increase in the country’s technological intensity promotes the variety of exported products by around 0.12% on average across all 15 sectors. In addition, total exports and the variety of exported products increase are higher in technology-intensive sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiong, Tingting, 2023. "The effect of technological intensity on international trade," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:inteco:v:176:y:2023:i:c:s2110701723000689
    DOI: 10.1016/j.inteco.2023.100456
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technological intensity; Extensive and intensive margins of exports; Gravity model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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