International Knowledge Flows and the Administrative Barriers to Mobility

Sultan Orazbayev (UCL SSEES) examines international knowledge flows and the administrative barriers to mobility, as part of the Centre for Comparative Studies of Emerging Economies seminar series. 

The literature on diffusion of knowledge has shown the positive influence of physical and cultural proximity, common language and contiguity on the speed and magnitude of international knowledge flows. Knowledge diffusion is also facilitated by co-location, even temporary one, which helps researchers form personal ties and exchange tacit information through face-to-face contact. 

However, the ability of researchers to disseminate the results of their work, especially recent or on-going research, through international conferences, workshop and seminar visits will be affected by the administrative barriers to mobility, for example travel visas. This paper uses a gravity-style empirical model to examine the link between the administrative barriers to mobility, especially of the highly-skilled and students, and the magnitude and direction of international knowledge flows between 45 countries from 1990 to 2014. Additional calculations are made using information on travel visa requirements between 134 countries in year 2004. The results suggest that higher administrative barriers to mobility between countries are associated with reduced bilateral knowledge flows, especially of recent knowledge, and that this effect can persist for about 7 years. 

Biography
Sultan Orazbayev is a research student at UCL SSEES, studying the role of social networks in migration decisions, collaboration and diffusion of information. Prior to UCL, Sultan worked at a government research centre in Kazakhstan, providing analytical support to the National Bank and the Government of Kazakhstan.

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