Relating the Knowledge Production Function to Total Factor Productivity: An Endogenous Growth Puzzle

The knowledge production function is central to research and development-based growth models. This paper empirically investigates the knowledge production function and intertemporal spillover effects using cointegration techniques. Timeseries evidence suggests there are two long-run cointegrating relationships. The first captures a long-run knowledge production function; the second captures a long-run positive relationship between total factor productivity (TFP) and the knowledge stock. The results indicate that strong intertemporal knowledge spillovers are present and that the long-run impact of the knowledge stock on TFP is small. This evidence is interpreted in light of existing theoretical and empirical evidence on endogenous growth. Copyright 2006, International Monetary Fund