Dynamic Structure of International Technology Diffusion - A Social Network Analysis Approach

[[abstract]]本研究的主旨主要利用社會學的網絡分析方法，探討各國之間的技術擴散聯繫關係。在全球化的議題中，鮮少有學者以社會網絡方式探討國家之間技術關係。本研究基於此觀點，根據Griliches(1979)提出具體(Embodied)與非具體(Disembodied)的國際技術擴散型式概念，收集雙邊貿易與專利引證等相關資料，利用1997至2002年六年資料，分為三期，探討在全世界前42個主要國家的技術知識擴散關係變化為何。 本研究透過Vernon(1966)所提出的國際產品生命週期（IPLC）模型與Harvey(1984)提出的技術生命週期理論，驗證技術擴散是否由先進國家擴散到開發中國家，再到未開發國家，是否呈現階層式擴散。依據本研究實證資料顯示，國際間的技術擴散模式，無論為具體型式或是非具體型式，皆無符合技術階層式擴散模式，而是技術最落後的國家會直接擷取技術最先進的國家，促使自己的技術競爭力能與核心國家並駕齊驅，並且提升本國的生產製造環境面，加強本國經濟發展。 本研究分別從整體層面與子群層面加以探討國家間的關係，由於研究對象為國家間的技術擴散情形，因此不考慮國家內的技術再引用的觀點。基於探討子群的觀點，本研究將研究國分為四群，分別為核心子群、中介子群、新創子群與吸收子群。就本研究實證資料顯示，技術可分為技術資訊互惠型與技術資訊吸收型國家兩大類。前三子群的技術會互相共享共用，但最後吸收子群的國家會直接學習核心子群的技術。 最後，本研究觀察指出，大部分開發中國家是獲取具體的技術知識型式(貿易方式獲得)，其原因在於若能直接學習外國現成的技術，這可為發展中國家省下發展與研究（R&D）的龐大費用，並帶動該國技術成長。[[abstract]]This study uses a sociological network analysis approach to discuss the relationships of technology diffusion among countries. In the global discussion, fewer scholars who use this approach discover those relationships. According to this point, we use the conception of embodied and disembodied technology diffusion which is proposed by Griliches(1979) and collect trade flows data and patent citation data from 1997 to 2002. Moreover, we divide six years into 3 terms and discuss main 42 countries’ relationships of technology diffusion. Based on Vernon(1966)’s IPLC and Harvey(1984)’s technology life cycle theory, this study verifies technology diffusion from advanced countries to developing countries and display hierarchic diffusions. According to this empirical data, whether neither embodied nor disembodied form, matched up with hierarchic diffusion form among countries. On the contrary, the laggardest countries will directly gather the new technology from advanced countries and keep abreast of core block with high competitive technology. Finally, those last counties promote their productive ability and enlarge their economy. This study discusses the relationships among countries by global and block level view. Because this study researches the diffusion among every country, we couldn’t think over the re-citation view in every country. Based on the discussion of block level group, this study divides the researched countries into four blocks which are core, intermediate, beginner and absorber block. In our empirical data, we can divide technology into two kind of countries. They are technology-reciprocal and technology-absorbable country. Core, intermediate and beginner block belong to technology-reciprocal country and absorber is part of technology-absorbable country. The former three blocks share their technology with each other. But the absorber block learns direct technology from core block’s technology. Finally, this study finds that most developing countries get embodied technology form by trade citation. This is because if those countries could learn foreign ready-made technology, they could save a lot of R&D expenditure and grow up technology.[[note]]碩