Microeconomics of Technology Adoption

Andrew Foster and Mark Rosenzweig

No 56760, Center Discussion Papers from Yale University, Economic Growth Center

Abstract: There is an emerging consensus among macro-economists that differences in technology across countries accounts for the major differences in per-capita GDP and the wages of workers with similar skills across countries. Accounting for differences in technology levels across countries thus can go a long way towards understanding global inequality. One mechanism by which poorer countries can catch up with richer countries is through technological diffusion, the adoption by low-income countries of the advanced technologies produced in high-income countries. In this survey, we examine recent micro studies that focus on understanding the adoption process. If technological diffusion is a major channel by which poor countries can develop, it must be the case that technology adoption is incomplete or the inputs associated with the technologies are under-utilized in poor, or slow-growing economies. Thus, obtaining a better understanding of the constraints on adoption are useful in understanding a major component of growth.

Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development; Farm Management; Food Security and Poverty; International Development; Labor and Human Capital; Land Economics/Use; Production Economics; Productivity Analysis; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 43
Date: 2010-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (363)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Microeconomics of Technology Adoption (2010)
Working Paper: Microeconomics of Technology Adoption (2010)
Working Paper: Microeconomics of Technology Adoption (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:yaleeg:56760

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.56760

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