Quality of Knowledge Technology, Returns to Production Technology and Economic Development

Presenting a discrete time version of the Romer (1986) model, this paper analyzes optimal paths in a one-sector growth model when the technology is not convex. We prove that for a given quality of knowledge technology, the countries could take-off if their initial stock of capital are above a critical level; otherwise they could face a poverty-trap. We show that for an economy which wants to take-off by means of knowledge technology requires three factors : large amount of initial knowledge, small fixed costs and a good quality of knowledge technology.