2021
Working Paper
HBS Working Paper Series

The Diffusion of Disruptive Technologies

By: Nicholas Bloom, Tarek A. Hassan, Aakash Kalyani, Josh Lerner and Ahmed Tahoun

Format:Print
| Language:English

Abstract

We identify novel technologies using textual analysis of patents, job postings, and earnings calls. Our approach enables us to identify and document the diffusion of 29 disruptive technologies across firms and labor markets in the U.S. Five stylized facts emerge from our data. First, the locations where technologies are developed that later disrupt businesses are geographically highly concentrated, even more so than overall patenting. Second, as the technologies mature and the number of new jobs related to them grows, they gradually spread across space. While initial hiring is concentrated in high-skilled jobs, over time the mean skill level in new positions associated with the technologies declines, broadening the types of jobs that adopt a given technology. At the same time, the geographic diffusion of low-skilled positions is significantly faster than higher-skilled ones, so that the locations where initial discoveries were made retain their leading positions among high-paying positions for decades. Finally, these technology hubs are more likely to arise in areas with universities and high skilled labor pools.

Keywords

Geography; Innovation; R＆D; Technology; Disruptive Innovation; Geographic Location; Employment; Innovation and Invention; Research and Development

Citation

Bloom, Nicholas, Tarek A. Hassan, Aakash Kalyani, Josh Lerner, and Ahmed Tahoun. "The Diffusion of Disruptive Technologies." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 21-144, June 2021.