Bridging the Gap or Widening the Divide? The Role of Technology in Global Economic Inequality

Authors

  • Abdulrhman Eshehri Kingston
  • Abdulrhman Alsoaery Kingston

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.91.15325

Keywords:

Global Economic, Technology, Inequality

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between technological advancements, transnational capitalism, and the growing divide in global economic inequality. It analyzes how developed nations' dominance in technology research and innovation has contributed to the disproportionate distribution of wealth, productivity, and economic development. By examining data such as G7 countries' investments in research and development, accounting for over 88% of global expenditure, and their holding of over 90% of patents filed in 2014, the article highlights the intricate links between multinational corporations, technological diffusion, and global inequality. The findings reveal that the concentration of technological advancements in a few developed countries not only fuels global capitalism but also exacerbates the economic disparities between rich and poor nations. The article calls for a more equitable approach to technological development and diffusion to bridge this widening gap.

References

Alguacil, M., Cuadros, A., & Orts, V. (2011). Inward FDI and growth: The role of macroeconomic and institutional environment. Journal of Policy Modeling, 33(3), 481- 496.

Atkin, D., Chaudhry, A., Chaudry, S., Khandelwal, A. K., & Verhoogen, E. (2017). Organizational barriers to technology adoption: Evidence from soccer-ball producers in Pakistan. The Quarterly Journal of Economics,

Barbosa, N., & Eiriz, V. (2009). Linking corporate productivity to foreign direct investment: An empirical assessment. International Business Review, 18(1), 1-13.

Bessen, J., Pezzoni, M., Veugelers, R., Visentin, F., Heldring, L., Robinson, J., & Wolf, N. (2010). Technology adoption and productivity growth: Evidence from industrialisation in France.

Coe, D. T., & Helpman, E. (1995). International R&D spillovers. European economic review, 39(5), 859-887.

Coe, D. T., Helpman, E., & Hoffmaister, A. W. (1997). North-south R & D spillovers. The Economic Journal,

Eaton, J., & Kortum, S. (1999). International technology diffusion: Theory and measurement. International Economic Review, 40(3), 537-570.

Elstner, S., Grimme, C., Kecht, V., & Lehmann, R. (2020). The Diffusion of Technological Progress in ICT.

Ferrier, G. D., Reyes, J., & Zhu, Z. (2016). Technology diffusion on the international trade network. Journal of Public Economic Theory, 18(2), 291-312.

Gong, G., & Keller, W. (2003). Convergence and polarization in global income levels: a review of recent results on the role of international technology diffusion. Research Policy, 32(6), 1055-1079.

Grossman, G. M., & Helpman, E. (1991). Innovation and growth in the global economy. MIT press.

Hardy, M., & McCasland, J. (2021). It takes two: experimental evidence on the determinants of technology diffusion. Journal of Development Economics, 149, 102600.

Helliar, C. V., Crawford, L., Rocca, L., Teodori, C., & Veneziani, M. (2020). Permissionless and permissioned blockchain diffusion. International Journal of Information Management, 54, 102136.

Johansson, B. (2021). Generation and diffusion of innovation. Handbook of regional science, 889-911.

Keller, W. (2002). Geographic localization of international technology diffusion. American Economic Review,

Keller, W. (2004). International technology diffusion. Journal of economic literature, 42(3), 752- 782.

Keller, W. (2010). International trade, foreign direct investment, and technology spillovers. In Handbook of the Economics of Innovation (Vol. 2, pp. 793-829).

North-Holland. Keller, W., & Yeaple, S. R. (2009). Multinational enterprises, international trade, and productivity growth: firm-level evidence from the United States. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 91(4), 821-831.

Kemeny, T. (2009). International technology gaps in the age of globalization. University of California, Los Angeles.

Kemeny, T. (2010). Does foreign direct investment drive technological upgrading? World Development, 38(11), 1543-1554.

Kemeny, T. (2011). Are international technology gaps growing or shrinking in the age of globalization? Journal of Economic Geography, 11(1), 1-35.

Kratz, A., Huotari, M., Hanemann, T., & Arcesati, R. (2020). Chinese FDI in Europe: 2019 update. A report by Rhodium Group (RHG) and the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

Masood, A., & Brü mmer, B. (2014). Determinants of worldwide diffusion of GlobalGAP certification (No. 48). GlobalFood Discussion Papers.

Menzel, A. (2017). Knowledge exchange and productivity spillovers in Bangladeshi garment factories. CERGE EI Working Paper Series, (607).

Narula, R. (2014). Foreign direct investment as a driver of industrial development: why is there so little evidence? Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Narula, R., & Marin, A. (2005). Foreign direct investment spillovers, absorptive capacities and human capital development: Evidence from Argentina (No. 96). International Labour Office.

Narula, R., & Pineli, A. (2017). Multinational enterprises and economic development in host countries: what we know and what we don’t know. In Development finance (pp. 147- 188). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Park, I., & Park, S. (2015). Modes of foreign direct investment and patterns of trade: An alternative empirical approach. The World Economy, 38(8), 1225-1245.

Reiter, S. L., & Steensma, H. K. (2010). Human development and foreign direct investment in developing countries: the influence of FDI policy and corruption. World development, 38(12), 1678-1691.

Sabadash, A. (2013). ICT-induced technological progress and employment: a literature review. JRC Working Papers on Digital Economy, (2013-07).

Schuler, D., Lenway, S., & Eden, L. (2006). 15. Multinational corporations through the uneven development lens. Multinational corporations and global poverty reduction.

Seitani, H., & Westmore, B. (2020). Technological diffusion and managing the associated economic transitions in Ireland.

Skiti, T. (2020). Institutional entry barriers and spatial technology diffusion: Evidence from the broadband industry. Strategic Management Journal, 41(7), 1336-1361.

Tinguely, X. (2013). The Clustering of Innovative Activity. In The New Geography of Innovation (pp. 86-108). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Van der Loos, H. A., Negro, S. O., & Hekkert, M. P. (2020). International markets and technological innovation systems: The case of offshore wind. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 34, 121-138.

Waldkirch, A., & Ofosu, A. (2010). Foreign presence, spillovers, and productivity: Evidence from Ghana. World Development, 38(8), 1114-1126.

Wang, C. H., & Lin, H. C. (2021). Competitive substitution and technological diffusion for semiconductor foundry firms. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 48, 101254.

Wooster, R. B., & Diebel, D. S. (2010). Productivity spillovers from foreign direct investment in developing countries: A meta-regression analysis. Review of Development Economics, 14(3), 640-655.

Xu, B., & Wang, J. (1999). Capital goods trade and R&D spillovers in the OECD. Canadian Journal of Economics, 1258-1274.

Downloads

Published

2023-09-08

How to Cite

Eshehri, A., & Alsoaery, A. (2023). Bridging the Gap or Widening the Divide? The Role of Technology in Global Economic Inequality. Archives of Business Research, 9(1), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.91.15325