Abstract
•This paper explains cross-country differences in technology adoption.•Individualism and intellectual property rights protection are focus.•The Cross-country Historical Adoption of Technology database is used.•Data for 83 countries and 24 technologies for the period 1980–2000.•Individualism and intellectual property rights protection have interaction effect.
This study explains the differences in technology adoption as a result of both culture and intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. We use data for 83 countries and 24 technologies for the time period 1980–2000. An individualistic culture, a strong IPR protection regime, and their joint effect are positively associated with technology adoption. The results hold up to a host of robustness checks.