基础研究是否有助于促进技术进步?——基于技术差距与技能结构的视角

Does basic research promote technological progress?——Based on the perspective of technological gap and labor skill structure

文章运用1998—2012年世界30个国家面板数据，考察了基础研究对技术进步的影响。实证结果表明：总体而言，基础研究对一国技术进步具有显著的正向影响；技术差距的缩小和高技能劳动力比重的增加，均有助于提升基础研究对技术进步的促进作用。进一步研究发现，基础研究不仅有助于提高一国的TFP增长率，而且有利于劳动生产率的改善和技术创新能力的提升。此外，基础研究对高收入国家和高知识产权保护国的技术进步具有更大的促进作用。

Using panel data of 30 countries during 1998 -2012, this paper empirically studies the effect of basic research on technolog- ical progress. The results prove that basic research has a positive effect on technological progress on the whole. Based on the perspec- tive of technological gap and labor skill structure, the further resuhs show that with the technological gap narrowing and the skilled labor ratio increasing, basic research will promote technological progress better. In terms of different forms of technological progress, basic research advances not only the growth rate of TFP, but also the labor productivity and technological innovation. In addition, in coun- tries with higher income and more strict intellectual property protection, basic research plays a more obvious positive role in promoting technological progress.