Better, Faster, Stronger: Global Innovation and Trade Liberalization

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Coelli, Federica; Moxnes, Andreas; Ulltveit-Moe, Karen Helene
• 署名单位: University of Zurich; University of Oslo; Center for Economic & Policy Research (CEPR)
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00951
• 发表日期: 2022-03
• 页码: 205-216
• 关键词: intermediate inputs; technical change; PRODUCTIVITY; COMPETITION; GROWTH; IMPACT; gravity

摘要

This paper estimates the effect on innovation of increased market access facilitated by trade liberalization. We use a novel empirical design that exploits tariff cuts during the 1990s, along with detailed data on innovation among firms from 65 countries. Our results reveal a large effect of tariff cuts on innovation as measured by patent data, suggesting that multilateral liberalization has promoted innovation and growth. These effects are not driven by the deterioration of innovation quality, and the results are robust to controlling for changes in the patent system and to industry-wide trends in innovation.