The Relationship between Inventive Activity and National Export Structure

Abstract

The presented study examines the relationship between export structure and inventive activity. It is established that the correlation between items of national export and inventive activity in the corresponding areas of technology is clear in medium-and high-tech fields and significantly lower in the commodity sector. The existence of this correlation makes it possible to conclude that maintaining the achieved level of non-resource exports is feasible only in the context of a constant search for new technological solutions that could become the source of new comparative competitive advantages for exported goods. Aim. The study aims to examine the correlation between export structure and the dynamics of inventive activity. Tasks. The authors analyze possible relationships between patent activity and exports in low-, medium-, and high-tech fields and determine patterns in the export dynamics of raw materials, fertilizers, and chemical batteries. Methods. This study uses the methods of correlation-regression analysis and time series analysis. Results. It is established that the correlation between items of national export and patent activity in the corresponding areas of technology is clear in medium-and high-tech spheres and significantly lower in the commodity sector. Conclusions. It is impossible to transfer all results of technological development into production with their subsequent transformation into export-oriented value propositions, which makes it necessary to ensure such rates of inventive activity in the target areas of technology that would outpace the desired growth rates of the corresponding export items. An increase in the exports of goods with high added value by the national economy can be achieved only providing that the rate of inventive activity is higher than the worldwide average for the corresponding area of technology.