Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/307992 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Citation: 
[Journal:] Economics of Innovation and New Technology [ISSN:] 1476-8364 [Volume:] 32 [Issue:] 4 [Publisher:] Taylor & Francis [Place:] London [Year:] 2023 [Pages:] 498-518
Publisher: 
Taylor & Francis, London
Abstract: 
In order to better understand why some nations are more innovative than others, this paper considers the influence of socio-historic dimensions of colonialism and income inequality. Using data from 72 nations over the years 1997-2018, we find that ethnic income inequality (along with income inequality) and ethnolinguistic fractionalization of the population reduced the pace of innovation. These findings underscore the role of income distribution and other social factors in facilitating innovation. Furthermore, nations with a colonial past were more innovative, ceteris paribus, whereas nations with long histories (longevity) were no different from others. Finally, we found some support for presidential democracies fostering more innovation.
Subjects: 
innovation; patents
R&D
colonialism
technological change
genetic distance
fractionalization
income inequality
history
path dependence
presidential democracies
JEL: 
O33
O34
O38
Published Version’s DOI: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by-nc Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Accepted Manuscript (Postprint)

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