Econometrica

Journal Of The Econometric Society

An International Society for the Advancement of Economic
Theory in its Relation to Statistics and Mathematics

Edited by: Guido W. Imbens • Print ISSN: 0012-9682 • Online ISSN: 1468-0262

Econometrica: Oct, 1961, Volume 29, Issue 4

Technical Change and the Rate of Imitation

https://doi.org/0012-9682(196110)29:4<741:TCATRO>2.0.CO;2-W
p. 741-766

Edwin Mansfield

This paper investigates the factors determining how rapidly the use of a new technique spreads from one firm to another. A simple model is presented to help explain differences among innovations in the rate of imitation. Deterministic and stochastic versions of this model are tested against data showing how rapidly firms in four industries came to use twelve important innovations. The empirical results seem quite consistent with both versions of the model.


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