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Learning on the Quick and Cheap: Gains from Trade Through Imported Expertise

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  • Rutherford, Thomas
  • Markusen, James
Abstract
Gains from productivity and knowledge transmission arising from the presence of foreign firms has received a good deal of empirical attention, but micro-foundations for this mechanism are weak. Here we focus on production by foreign experts who may train domestic unskilled workers who work with them. Gains from training can in turn be decomposed into two types: (a) obtaining knowledge and skills at a lower cost than if they are self-taught at home; (b) producing domestic skilled workers earlier in time than if they had to rediscover the relevant knowledge through ?reinventing the wheel?. We develop a three-period model in which the economy initially has no skilled workers. Workers can withdraw from the labour force for two periods of self study and then produce as skilled workers in the third period. Alternatively, foreign experts can be hired in period 1 and domestic unskilled labour working with the experts become skilled in the second period. We analyse how production, training, and welfare depend on two important parameters: the cost of foreign experts and the learning (or ?absorptive?) capacity of the domestic economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Rutherford, Thomas & Markusen, James, 2004. "Learning on the Quick and Cheap: Gains from Trade Through Imported Expertise," CEPR Discussion Papers 4504, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:4504
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Carmen F. Castejón & Julia Wörz, 2006. "Good or Bad? The Influence of FDI on Output Growth: An industry-level analysis," wiiw Working Papers 38, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    3. Dieter M. Urban, 2010. "FDI, Technology Spillovers, and Wages," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(3), pages 443-453, August.
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    5. Caudillo Sanchez, Francisco, 2006. "Is information and communication technology (ICT) the right strategy for growth in Mexico?," Freiberg Working Papers 2006/17, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    6. Shima’a Hanafy & Marcus Marktanner, 2019. "Sectoral FDI, absorptive capacity and economic growth – empirical evidence from Egyptian governorates," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 57-81, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transmission mechanism; Foreign experts; Productivity growth; Skilled labour;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F20 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - General
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

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