Ian Tufts
Ian Tufts is a policy analyst with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. His research focuses on the economic implications of innovation and technology policy. He holds a Master of Science in applied economics from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in economics from George Mason University.
Research Areas
Recent Publications
Fact of the Week: US Export Controls Reduce Foreign Direct Investment in the US by 13 Percent
A recent working paper suggests that trade and technology restrictions in the U.S. not only reduce consumer welfare and exports, but also negatively influence other indicators such as foreign investment due to declines in associated technology transfer.
Fact of the Week: California’s Tech Sector Has Added Only About 6,000 Jobs Since the Start of COVID
A recent analysis shows that California’s share of all tech sector jobs has declined from around 19 percent in early 2020 to about 16 percent now.
Fact of the Week: Internet Access Reduced Women’s Job Losses in Latin America During COVID-19
A recent working paper found that women in Latin America and the Caribbean with internet access had a 5 percent lower rate of job pre-pandemic job loss and about a 4 percent increase in their labor force participation rate than those without internet.
Fact of the Week: Participation in Global Value Chains Raises Firms’ Labor Productivity by 20 Percent
A recent working paper found that, overall, global value chain participation raises labor productivity by about 20 percent.
Fact of the Week: A 10 Percent Increase in Intangible Assets Increases MFP Growth By Up To 0.46 Percent
A recent working paper found that firms that had low multifactor productivity (MFP) to start with experienced higher MFP growth, and that firms with more intangible assets also had higher MFP growth.
Fact of the Week: Financial Liberalization Increases Technology Diffusion Within a Country by 7–9 Percent
A recent working paper indicates a positive impact of financial liberalization on capital inflows, technology diffusion, and economic growth.
No, Market Leaders Are Not Driving Declines in Innovation and Economic Dynamism
A report by the Economic Innovation Group (EIG) concludes that declining knowledge diffusion is the underlying cause of declining business dynamism. However, its theoretical model is based on flawed assumptions, while its mathematical model has methodological issues.
Fact of the Week: Manufacturing Firms That Adopt Robots Export More Often Than Non-Adopters
A recent working paper found that not only are manufacturers that adopt robots more likely than non-adopters to export, they also export to more regions.
Fact of the Week: Manufacturing Firms That Use Cloud Computing Export More Often Than Non-Users
A recent working paper found that manufacturers that use cloud computing systems are more likely than non-users to export, and they also export to more regions.
New NSF Data Shows Venture Capital Flowing Away From the United States
While America can still boast the largest global share of VC investments, it faces serious competition from ambitious rivals. This is yet another reminder why the U.S. government needs to develop and implement a national innovation and competitiveness strategy.
Fact of the Week: A 1 Percent Increase in STEM Technicians Raises Manufacturing Firms’ Productivity by 4 Percent
A recent working paper found that manufacturing firms, a 1 percent increase in techies’ share of wages was associated with a 4 percent increase in TFP in the next year.
Fact of the Week: Cross-Border Patenting Would Have Been 43 Percent Lower Without Globalization
A new working paper estimates that cross-border patenting from the Global North to the Global South would have been about 43 percent lower in the absence of globalization.
