Technology accumulation and diffusion: is there a regional dimension?

Pier Carlo Padoan

No 1781, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Recently, interest in regionalism has mushroomed, and economists have analyzed it not only from the viewpoint of trade but that of foreign investment, macroeconomics, and political economy. But questions of technological regionalism -whether the accumulation and diffusion of technology has a regional dimension- have been considered only marginally and indirectly. The author offers an exploratory analysis of the regional dimension of technology and diffusion, examining both country and sectoral aspects of it. Empirical results suggest that regional trade agreements do not necessarily lead to spillover paterns in regional knowledge. But knowledge may be diffused through vehicles other thn trade. National patterns of technological accumulation seem more important than regional patterns. In particular , more internationalized economies seem capable of commanding a substantial amount of knowledge diffusion, which may sometimes follow regional patterns. These conclusions are partly confirmed by sectoral estimates that show that regional patterns of knowledge diffusion are highly sector-specific. The knowledge bae varies greatly across sectors.

Keywords: Knowledge Economy; Environmental Economics&Policies; ICT Policy and Strategies; Educational Technology and Distance Education; Economic Theory&Research; TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT; ICT Policy and Strategies; Trade and Regional Integration; Educational Technology and Distance Education; Environmental Economics&Policies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1997-06-30
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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