Diffusion of ideas in networks with endogenous search

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

I study the diffusion of technology when the decision to search for productivity-enhancing technologies depends on the network of interactions between agents. Agents have the option to engage in costly learning from their first-degree connections. The more productive an agent's connections, the higher the gains from learning. Hence, the network affects the reservation productivity at which agents choose to learn and, therefore, affects aggregate productivity. I find that the denser the network, the higher total factor productivity and the lower inequality on average. This effect is due to less dispersed gains from learning across nodes when network density increases. Despite the increase in productivity, the share of agents that learn in equilibrium is not affected by network density.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)269-311
Number of pages43
JournalReview of Economic Dynamics
Volume49
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2023

Keywords

  • Aggregate productivity
  • Heterogeneous agents
  • Learning effort
  • Networks
  • Productivity distribution
  • Technology diffusion

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