Applied Micro Seminar : Every Tuesday
Time: 12:15 pm – 13:30 pm
Date: October, 13
Room : 3001

Flavio CALVINO (OECD) “AI Use, Productivity And Innovation: Cross-Country Evidence From Microdata”

Abstract :

The presentation discusses evidence from a series of recent studies on the role of AI in firms and its relationship with productivity and innovation, with a particular focus on heterogeneity in patterns of adoption, use and returns. Drawing on multiple sources of microdata across 15 OECD countries and leveraging descriptive, econometric and AI-enabled methods, key findings from this body of research highlight that AI adoption remains highly uneven across firms and sectors, and that productivity gains have yet to fully materialise. Firms differ considerably in how and for what purposes they use AI, with different AI applications supporting distinct business functions. Human and technological capital play a key role in both AI adoption and productivity, explaining part of the advantages observed among AI users. Among different types of AI users, firms that develop AI in-house tend to realise larger productivity gains. AI exhibits considerable potential as a general-purpose technology, notably through its capacity to foster innovation and augment R&D. The dimensions of heterogeneity outlined have important implications for policies aimed at fostering AI adoption and productivity growth.

I was planning an overview based on recent and ongoing analyses, two key papers on which I plan to zoom in in more detail are the following:
• Calvino, F., H. Costa and D. Haerle (2026), “Digital technology diffusion in the age of AI: Cross-country evidence from microdata”, OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers, No. 2026/01, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/ebc2debe-en.
• Calvino, F. and L. Fontanelli (2026), “AI Users are Not All Alike: The Characteristics of French Firms Buying and Developing AI”, Research Policy, 55(5), 10.1016/j.respol.2026.105473.

https://doi.org/10.1787/ebc2debe-en.

Organizers:
Benoît SCHMUTZ (Pôle économie du CREST)
Clément MALGOUYRES (Pôle économie du CREST)

Sponsors:
CREST