Empirical Analysis of Knowledge Production Function

Since the 1950s, economic growth has been one of the main topics of economic discipline. In this context, the sources of economic growth have been analyzed by different economic theories. One of the aims of this book is to examine developments in economic theory, especially of modern neoclassical and evolutionary approaches, by focusing on technological progress. Theoretical review part reveals that both the endogenous growth models in the tradition of modern neoclassical theory, and the important insights of the evolutionary economic theory help to analyze technological progress and/or economic growth. This book also aims to measure technological progress. The measurement of technological progress is vital for the nations' development strategies and the firms' innovation policies. In this regard, patent statistics are used as a proxy of technological progress. The empirical parts involve a number of applications of endogenous growth theory. In this regard, the growth rate differences across countries are examined by using the frameworks of both the modern neoclassical and evolutionary theories. Moreover, this study tests the knowledge generation process in the framework of endogenous growth approach. The knowledge production approach is used for this purpose. Finally, product variety and quality improvement dimensions of technological progress are empirically analyzed by using patent statistics.