Cross-Country Technology Diffusion: The Case of Computers / Francesco Caselli, Wilbur John Coleman II.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Caselli, Francesco.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Coleman, Wilbur John.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w8130.

NBER working paper series no. w8130

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Cross-Country Technology Diffusion

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2001.

Summary:

We use data on imports of computer equipment for a large sample of countries between 1 970 and 1990 to investigate the determinants of computer-technology adoption. We find strong evidence that computer adoption is associated with higher levels of human capital and with manufacturing trade openness vis-a-vis the OECD. We also find evidence that computer adoption is enhanced by high investment rates, good property rights protection, and a small share of agriculture in GDP. Finally, there is some evidence that adoption is reduced by a large share of government in GDP, and increased by a large share of manufacturing. After controlling for the above-mentioned variables, we do not find an independent role for the English- (or European-) language skills of the population.

Notes:

Print version record

February 2001.