Diego Comin -- Why New Technologies Do Not Make Poor Countries Rich

Diego, a professor at Harvard Business School, discusses his research on technology adoption and income disparity. He explains the concepts of extensive and intensive margins, highlighting the faster adoption of new technologies in poorer countries but not a corresponding income convergence. Diego's research uses a comprehensive dataset to analyze these dynamics, considering factors like financial markets, political institutions, and geography. He shares his academic journey and teaching experiences, emphasizing the importance of empirical data in growth theory.

What is the extensive margin in the context of technology adoption?

• The economic impact of technology on a country

• The speed at which new technologies are invented

• The initial adoption of technology by a country

• The intensity of technology usage within a country

Why is the decline in adoption lags significant for poor countries?

• It leads to immediate income convergence

• It results in faster economic growth

• It shows faster technology diffusion but not income convergence

• It causes a decrease in technology costs

What was a major challenge in studying technology adoption before recent advancements?

• Inconsistent technology definitions

• Too much data to analyze

• Absence of direct measures of technology

• Lack of interest in the topic

What role do financial markets play in technology adoption according to Diego's research?

• They only affect technology adoption in rich countries

• They may slow down technology diffusion in some countries

• They accelerate technology adoption in all countries

• They have no impact on technology adoption

What motivated Diego to pursue research in technology adoption and economic growth?

• A lack of empirical data in growth theories

• A personal interest in technology gadgets

• A focus on financial markets

• A desire to work in political institutions

How does Diego describe the difference between teaching at NYU and Harvard Business School?

• NYU is more research-oriented, Harvard is more lecture-based

• NYU focuses on case discussions, Harvard on lectures

• NYU involves lectures, Harvard involves case discussions

• Both are similar in teaching style

What is a key factor that Diego believes affects a country's growth trajectory?

• Neither internal nor external factors

• Internal characteristics only

• External factors only

• Both internal and external factors