Skilled immigrants and technology adoption: Evidence from the German settlements in the Russian empire |
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| Institution: | 1. Center for Institutional Studies, HSE University, Russian Federation;2. Department of Political Science, Stanford University, USA;1. University of Pittsburgh and NBER, USA;2. Dickinson College, P.O. Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013, USA;3. University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark;1. KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business, Campus Brussels, Warmoesberg 26, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium;2. Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, USA;3. Department of Economics and the Center for Governance and Markets, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA;1. University of Bayreuth, Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, IZA – Institute of Labor Economics, Kiel Institute for the World Economy and RWI Research Network, Faculty of Law, Business and Economics, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany;2. University of Hohenheim, CEPR and CESifo Department of Economics, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany |
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| Abstract: | This paper examines knowledge spillovers across ethnic boundaries. Using the case of skilled German immigrants in the Russian Empire, we study technology adoption among Russian peasants. We find that distance to German settlements predicts the prevalence of heavy iron ploughs, fanning mills and wheat sowing among Russians, who traditionally ploughed with a light wooden ard and sowed rye. The main channel of technology adoption was German fairs. We show that heavy ploughs increased the labor productivity of Russian peasants. However, communication barriers precluded Russians from adopting skill-intensive occupations like blacksmithing, mechanics, carpentry, and other crafts. The results suggest that skilled immigrants may enhance local development through the introduction of advanced tools without transmitting their skills to a receiving society. |
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