Trade and Diffusion of Embodied Technology: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract: Using global patents, citations, inter-sectoral sales, and trade data, we examine the international diffusion of technology through imported inputs. We use citations and sales data to characterize knowledge and production input-output tables for individual countries. Using these tables, we construct a measure of the flow of knowledge-weighted and production-weighted technology embodied in inputs imported from the US. We develop an instrumental variable strategy to establish that increases in embodied technology imports lead to increased innovation and knowledge diffusion in sectors within importing countries. Effects are substantially larger for knowledge-weighted imports of embodied technology.