Ethnic scientific communities and international technology diffusion

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Kerr, William R.
• 署名单位: Harvard University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest.90.3.518
• 发表日期: 2008-08
• 页码: 518-537
• 关键词: research-and-development; knowledge spillovers; patent citations; geographic localization; FLOWS; PRODUCTIVITY; integration; INVESTMENT; networks; view

摘要

This study explores the role of U.S. ethnic scientific and entrepreneurial communities for international technology transfer to their home countries. U.S. ethnic researchers are quantified through an ethnic-name database and individual patent records. International patent citations confirm knowledge diffuses through ethnic networks, and manufacturing output in foreign countries increases with an elasticity of 0.1-0.3 to stronger scientific integration with the U.S. frontier. Specifications exploiting exogenous changes in U.S. immigration quotas address reverse-causality concerns. Exercises further differentiate responses by development stages in home countries. Ethnic technology transfers are particularly strong in high-tech industries and among Chinese economies.