Cognitive skills, innovation and technology diffusion

George Messinis and Abdullahi Ahmed

Economic Modelling, 2013, vol. 30, issue C, 565-578

Abstract: This article presents new international estimates of human capital for the period 1970–2003. The new latent index is used to re-examine the Benhabib and Spiegel (2005) model of technology diffusion in a horse-race with the competing indicators of Barro and Lee (2010) and Hanushek and Wößmann (2009). Analysis employs cross-section and panel econometrics, extends beyond the Cobb–Douglas technology, and deals with endogeneity bias. Robust evidence confirms the significance of cognitive skills as a driver of innovation and diffusion. Although there is substantial diversity, the new human capital index has declined in many countries in Africa and the OECD.

Keywords: Education; Research skills; Human capital; Growth; Innovation; Diffusion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I2 O1 O3 O4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:30:y:2013:i:c:p:565-578

DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2012.10.002

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