Using a new dataset on imports of technology and total factor productivity (TFP) over more than a century for the OECD countries, this paper tests for international technological transmission through trade. The empirical estimates suggest that imports of knowledge have been responsible for an almost 200% increase in TFP over the past century, but that the spillover effect has been highly uneven...

We document that nearly half of the global decline in agricultural employment was driven by new cohorts entering labor market. A dataset policy reforms supports an interpretation these cohort effects as human capital. Using a model frictional reallocation, we conclude capital growth led to sharp supply, accounting, at fixed prices, for 40 percent decrease employment. This aggregate effect is ha...

Researchers of regional and international productivity comparisons are increasingly adopting various frontier approaches to examine convergence and the possible causes of productivity differences. We argue that economy-wide technology frontiers estimated with aggregate measures of output are downward biased. This bias extends not only to estimates of the technology frontier, but also produces i...

Using a new dataset on imports of technology and total factor productivity (TFP) over more than a century for the OECD countries, this paper tests for international technological transmission through trade. The empirical estimates suggest that imports of knowledge have been responsible for an almost 200% increase in TFP over the past century, but that the spillover effect has been highly uneven...

Two approaches taken to the embodiment question are compared and discussed: quantitative theory and traditional growth accounting. The two approaches give very different estimates for the contribution of investment-specific technological advance to economic growth. Therefore, the approach taken matters. It is argued that the measures used in traditional growth accounting to gauge the importance...

We study the importance of input-output (IO) linkages and sectoral productivity (TFP) in determining cross-country income differences. find that while highly connected sectors are more productive than typical sector poor countries, opposite is true rich ones. To assess quantitative role TFP differences differences, we decompose variation using a multisector general equilibrium model. IO substan...

To what degree can labor reallocation mitigate the economic consequences of weather-driven agricultural productivity shocks? I estimate that temperature-driven reductions in demand for India are associated with increases nonagricultural employment. This suggests ability sectors to absorb workers may play a key role attenuating shocks. Exploiting firm-level variation propensity workers, relative...

This paper quantifies the contribution of technology gaps to international income inequality. I develop an endogenous growth model where cross-country differences in R&D efficiency and cross-industry innovation adoption opportunities together determine equilibrium gaps, trade patterns, Countries with higher are richer have comparative advantage more innovation-dependent industries. calibrat...