Mapping The Two Faces Of R&D: Productivity Growth In A Panel Of OECD Industries

John van Reenen, Rachel Griffith and Stephen Redding

No 2457, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Many writers have claimed that R&D has two 'faces'. In addition to the conventional role of stimulating innovation, R&D enhances technology transfer by improving the ability of firms to learn about advances in the leading edge ('absorptive capacity'). In this paper we document that there has been convergence of TFP within a panel of industries across thirteen OECD countries since 1970. Furthermore, we find evidence that both R&D and human capital appear statistically and economically important in this catch up process as well as stimulating innovation directly. Trade, by contrast, plays a more modest role in productivity growth.

Keywords: Convergence; Human capital; R&d; Total factor productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O0 O30 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000-05
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (101)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Mapping the Two Faces of R&D: Productivity Growth in a Panel of OECD Industries (2004)
Working Paper: Mapping the Two Faces of R&D: Productivity Growth in a Panel of OECD Industries (2000)
Working Paper: Mapping the two faces of R&D: productivity growth in a panel of OECD industries (2000)
Working Paper: Mapping the two faces of R&D: productivity growth in a panel of OECD industries (2000)
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