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Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 113 No. 4 1998

Appropriate Technology and Growth

Sarbani Basu1,2; David Weil2,3,4

1 Boston College · 2 National Bureau of Economic Research · 3 John Brown University · 4 Brown University

Abstract

We model growth and technology transfer in a world where technologies are specific to particular combinations of inputs. Unlike the usual specification, our model does not imply that an improvement in one technique for producing a given good improves all other techniques for producing that good. Technology improvements diffuse slowly across countries, although knowledge spreads instantaneously and there are no technology adoption costs. However, even with “Ak” production, our model implies conditional convergence. This model, with appropriate technology and technology diffusion, has more realistic predictions for convergence and growth than either the standard neoclassical model or simple endogenous-growth models.

DOI
10.1162/003355398555829
Volume
113
Issue
4
Pages
1025-1054
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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