An exploration of technology diffusion
By: Diego A. Comin and Bart Hobijn
Contributors: Hobijn, Bart; Harvard Business School
Series: Working paper / Harvard Business School -- 08-093; Working paper (Harvard Business School) -- 08-093
Publisher: Harvard Business School
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 48
Description: We develop a model that, at the aggregate level, is similar to the one sector neoclassical growth model, while, at the disaggregate level, has implications for the path of observable measures of technology adoption. We estimate our model using data on the diffusion of 15 technologies in 166 countries over the last two centuries. We evaluate the implications of our estimates for aggregate TFP and per capita income. Our results reveal that, on average, countries have adopted technologies 47 years after their invention. There is substantial variation across technologies and countries. Over the past two centuries, newer technologies have been adopted faster than old ones. The cross-country variation in the adoption of technologies accounts for at least a quarter of per capita income differences.
Notes: "April 2008"--Publisher's web site.

Includes bibliographical references.