Technology Gaps, Trade, and Income

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Sampson, Thomas
• 署名单位: University of London; London School Economics & Political Science
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20201940
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 472-513
• 关键词: research-and-development; comparative advantage; catch-up; INNOVATION; GROWTH; diffusion; PRODUCTIVITY; FIRMS; allocation; countries

摘要

This paper quantifies the contribution of technology gaps to inter-national income inequality. I develop an endogenous growth model where cross-country differences in R&D efficiency and cross-industry differences in innovation and adoption opportunities together determine equilibrium technology gaps, trade patterns, and income inequality. Countries with higher R&D efficiency are richer and have comparative advantage in more innovation-dependent industries. I calibrate R&D efficiency by country and innovation dependence by industry using R&D, patent, and bilateral trade data. Counterfactual analysis implies technology gaps account for one-quarter to one-third of nominal wage variation within the OECD. (JEL D21, D24, D31, F14, O31, O33, O47)