An exploration of technology diffusion
By: Diego Comin, Bart Hobiijn
Contributors: Hobiijn, Bart; National Bureau of Economic Research
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 12314; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) -- working paper no. 12314.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
Description: "We develop and estimate a model where technology diffusion depends on the level of productivity embodied in capital and where this is, in turn, determined by two key mechanisms: the rate at which the quality embodied in new technology vintages increases (embodiment) and the gains from varieties induced by the introduction of new vintages (variety).  In our model, these two effects are related to technology adoption decisions taken at two different levels.  The capital goods suppliers' decisions of when to adopt a given vintage determines the embodiment margin.  The workers' decisions of which of the adopted vintages to use in production determines the variety margin.Estimation of our model for a sample of 19 technologies, 21 countries, and the period 1870-1998 reveals that embodied productivity growth is large for many of the technologies in our sample.  On average, increases in the variety of vintages available is a more important source of growth than the increases in the embodiment margin.  There is, however, substantial heterogeneity across technologies.  Where adoption lags matter, they are largely determined by lack of educational attainment and lack of trade openness"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 6/29/2006.

Includes bibliographical references.

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Mode of access: World Wide Web.