This paper seeks to gain insights into whether developing countries benefit more from the backwardness advantage for economic growth in the Information Age. The paper examines this concern through three complementary approaches. First, it derives theoretical grounds from the existing economic...

Since Schumpeter, economists have argued that vast productivity gains can be achieved by investing in innovation and technological catch-up. Yet, as this volume documents, developing country firms and governments invest little to realize this potential, which dwarfs international aid flows....

Since Schumpeter, economists have argued that vast productivity gains can be achieved by investing in innovation and technological catch-up. Yet, as this volume documents, developing country firms and governments invest little to realize this potential, which dwarfs international aid flows....

"Cover" -- "Title" -- "Copyright" -- "Contents" -- "Foreword" -- "Preface" -- "Acknowledgments" -- "Abbreviations" -- "Executive Summary" -- "1. The Innovation Paradox" -- "Introduction: The Innovation Imperative" -- "The Innovation Paradox" -- "The Still-Bound Prometheus" -- "The Plan of the...

At a time when the forces of globalization and automation face a backlash in large parts of the developed world for their role in displacing jobs and spurring inequality and as movies figuring dystopian futures with robots dominating the future gain traction, the book The Great Convergence:...