Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/52993 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2001
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Discussion Paper No. 2001/39
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
Globalization has drastically improved access of technological latecomers to advanced technologies and provides a unique opportunity for low-income countries to raise per capita income. This paper shows that low-income countries as a group have in fact substantially increased the GDP-ratio of technology imports over the past few years, but that there are large cross-country discrepancies in technology upgrading within this group. General-purpose technology continues to constitute the bulk of technology imports, while sector-specific technology used for labour-intensive activities has gained in importance. Improved access to technology imports appears not to have improved labour productivity and the demand for skilled labour in many low-income countries. To raise the benefits reaped from globalization, governments might need to make additional efforts towards a simultaneous increase in technology imports and the skill level of the domestic labour force.
Subjects: 
technology transfer
labour productivity
low-income countries
JEL: 
O33
J24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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