International Technology Transfer Patterns in a Traditional Industry

This paper examines the factors influencing the speed of transfer of 40 textile machinery innovations between the United States and leading foreign competitors. Statistical analysis is based on detailed data identifying the first U.S. and foreign producers to introduce innovations, and indicating the timing of their introductions. Empirical relationships suggest that the speed of international transfer has been greater as time has passed and as commercial transactions between industrialized nations have increased. The speed has been slower when the innovating domestic firm was technologically non-dominant and the imitating foreign firm was technologically dominant.