Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • 2012
  • Working Paper

The Spatial Diffusion of Technology

By: Diego A. Comin, Mikhail Dmitriev and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
ShareBar

Abstract

We empirically study technology diffusion across countries and over time. We find significant evidence that technology diffuses slower to locations that are farther away from adoption leaders. This effect is stronger across rich countries and also when measuring distance along the south-north dimension. A simple theory of human interactions can account for these empirical findings. The theory suggests that the effect of distance should vanish over time, a hypothesis that we confirm in the data and that distinguishes technology from other flows like goods or investments. We then structurally estimate the model. The parameter governing the frequency of interactions is larger for newer and network-based technologies, and for the median technology, the frequency of interactions decays by 73% every 1000 kms. Overall, we document the significant role that geography plays in determining technology diffusion across countries.

Keywords

Economic Growth; Knowledge Dissemination; Technology Adoption

Citation

Comin, Diego A., Mikhail Dmitriev, and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg. "The Spatial Diffusion of Technology." NBER Working Paper Series, No. 18534, November 2012.
  • Read Now

More from the Authors

    • 2014
    • Faculty Research

    The Intensive Margin of Technology Adoption

    By: Diego A. Comin
    • 2014
    • Faculty Research

    Technology Diffusion: Measurement, Causes and Consequences

    By: Diego A. Comin and Marti Mestieri
    • 2013
    • Faculty Research

    From Green Users to Green Voters

    By: Diego Comin and Johannes Rode
More from the Authors
  • The Intensive Margin of Technology Adoption By: Diego A. Comin
  • Technology Diffusion: Measurement, Causes and Consequences By: Diego A. Comin and Marti Mestieri
  • From Green Users to Green Voters By: Diego Comin and Johannes Rode
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College