How Does Economic Integration Affect Technology Diffusion and the Spatial Distribution of Productivity Growth?

生产率增长和技术进步是密切相关的现象。此外，一个地方的技术进步往往与其他地方的生产率增长齐头并进，部分原因是技术知识是非竞争性的。技术扩散是指一个产业的研发活动使另一个产业的生产率提高，一国的研发活动使另一国的生产率提高的过程。 最近的增长理论研究认为，产业和国家一级的经济一体化促进了技术扩散和生产率增长的空间分布。本项目力求量化经济一体化对技术传播和生产力增长的贡献，并区分经济一体化的不同渠道。本研究的结果将对科学技术、贸易和国际投资等经济政策产生影响，这些政策由于生产率和经济福祉之间的关系而对福利产生重大影响。

Wolfgang KellerNBERSBR-9818902Productivity growth and technical progress are closely related phenomena. Moreover, technical progress in one location frequently goes hand in hand with productivity growth elsewhere, partly because technological knowledge is non-rival. Technology diffusion is the process by which R&D in one industry benefits productivity in another industry, and R&D in one country increases the productivity in another country. Recent research in growth theory holds that economic integration at the industry as well as at the country level facilitates technology diffusion and the spatial distribution of productivity growth. This project seeks to quantify the contribution of economic integration to technology diffusion and productivity growth and to distinguish different channels through which it does so. The results from this research will have implications for economic policies towards science and technology, trade, and international investment, which have a considerable impact on welfare due to the relationship between productivity and economic well-being.