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dc.contributor.advisorK. Daron Acemoglu, David H. Autor and Ricardo J. Caballero [Caballero's name crossed out and has signature of Peter Temin].en_US
dc.contributor.authorKerr, William Robert, Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.contributor.otherMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Economics.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2007-08-29T18:53:13Z
dc.date.available2007-08-29T18:53:13Z
dc.date.copyright2005en_US
dc.date.issued2005en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/33832en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33832
dc.descriptionThesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Economics, 2005.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_US
dc.description.abstractThis thesis characterizes the important role of US ethnic scientists and entrepreneurs for international technology diffusion. Chapter 1 studies the transfer of tacit knowledge regarding new innovations through ethnic scientific communities in the US and their ties to their home countries. US ethnic research communities are quantified by applying an ethnic-name database to individual patent records. International patent citations confirm knowledge diffuses through ethnic networks, and manufacturing output in foreign countries increases with an elasticity of approximately 0.3 to stronger scientific integration with the US frontier. To address reverse-causality concerns, reduced-form specifications exploit exogenous changes in US immigration quotas. Consistent with a model of sector reallocation, output growth in less developed economies is facilitated by employment gains, while more advanced economies experience sharper increases in labor productivity. The findings suggest tacit knowledge channels partly shape the effective technology frontiers of developing economies. Chapter 2 further exploits this heterogeneous technology diffusion through ethnic networks to test the importance of Ricardian technology differences for international trade. Panel regressions find technology growth increases manufacturing exports.en_US
dc.description.abstract(cont.) To establish a causal relationship between technology and trade, instrumental-variables specifications exploit uneven technology diffusion from the US through ethnic scientific networks. The instrumented elasticity of export growth to the exporter's technology development is 0.9 in the preferred specification. Supplemental specifications show this elasticity is robust to controlling for the importer's technology development and to Rybczynski effect due to factor accumulation. Exogenous reforms of US immigration law again test for reverse causality. The findings suggest technology differences are an important determinant of trade patterns. As a supplement to these first two studies, Chapter 3 provides detailed documentation on the ethnic-name strategy employed with US patent records. The growing contribution of Chinese and Indian scientists to US technology formation, especially in high-tech industries, is described. The institutional and geographic dimensions of US ethnic innovation are further characterized. Finally, Chapter 4 concludes with an independent study of income inequality and social norms for compensation differentials and government-led redistribution. This work demonstrates that short-run responses in social norms do not amplify income inequality shocks (e.g., due to skill-biased technical change).en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby William Robert Kerr.en_US
dc.format.extent191, [20] p.en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/33832en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
dc.subjectEconomics.en_US
dc.titleThe role of immigrant scientists and entrepreneurs in international technology transferen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreePh.D.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Economics
dc.identifier.oclc65199599en_US


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