National patterns of technology diffusion found in country estimates probably reflect sectoral variations more than country variations. They also reflect different degrees of internationalization.
Recently, interest in regionalism has mushroomed, and economists have analyzed it not only from the viewpoint of trade but that of foreign investment, macroeconomics, and political economy. But questions of technological regionalism—whether the accumulation and diffusion of technology has a regional dimension—have been considered only marginally and indirectly.
Padoan offers an exploratory analysis of the regional dimension of technology and diffusion, examining both country and sectoral aspects of it.
Empirical results suggest that regional trade agreements do not necessarily lead to spillover patterns in regional knowledge. But knowledge may be diffused through vehicles other than trade.
National patterns of technological accumulation seem more important than regional patterns. In particular, more internationalized economies seem capable of commanding a substantial amount of knowledge diffusion, which may sometimes follow regional patterns.
These conclusions are partly confirmed by sectoral estimates that show that regional patterns of knowledge diffusion are highly sector-specific. The knowledge base varies greatly across sectors.
This paper — a product of the International
Trade Division, International Economics Department — was
prepared for the department's research project on regional
integration. Copies of this paper are available free from the
World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433. Please contact
Jennifer Ngaine, room N5-056, telephone 202-473-7947, fax 202-522-1159,
Internet address trade@worldbank.org. (36 pages)
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