The ratio of global trade to GDP declined by nearly 30 percent during the global recession of 2008-2009. This large drop in international trade has generated significant attention and concern. Did the decline simply reflect the severity of the recession for traded goods industries? Or...

We consider the interaction of trade and technology diffusion in a two-region model of innovation and imitation. We find that globalization, either in the form of lower trade barriers or in faster diffusion of technology between innovator and imitator spurs innovation, benefiting both regions.