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Many writers have claimed that R&D has two 'faces'. In addition to the conventional role of stimulating innovation, R&D enhances technology transfer by improving the ability of firms to learn about advances in the leading edge ('absorptive capacity'). In this paper we document that there has been convergence of TFP within a panel of industries across thirteen OECD countries since 1970. Furthermore, we find evidence that both R&D and human capital appear statistically and economically important in this catch up process as well as stimulating innovation directly. Trade, by contrast, plays a more modest role in productivity growth.
Authors
![Rachel Cassidy](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-08/Rachel_Griffith.jpg?itok=YovGgLq9)
CPP Co-Director, IFS Research Director
Rachel is Research Director and Professor at the University of Manchester. She was made a Dame for services to economic policy and education in 2021.
![Person graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/IFS-person-graphic.png?itok=hWCtTSrz)
Stephen Redding
![Person graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/IFS-person-graphic.png?itok=hWCtTSrz)
John Van Reenen
Working Paper details
- DOI
- 10.1920/wp.ifs.2000.0002
- Publisher
- IFS
Suggested citation
R, Griffith and S, Redding and J, Van Reenen. (2000). Mapping the two faces of R&D: productivity growth in a panel of OECD industries. London: IFS. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/mapping-two-faces-rd-productivity-growth-panel-oecd-industries (accessed: 30 June 2024).
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