Moderate Innovator Trap—Does the Convergence of Innovation Performance Occur in the World Economy?

Based on ? and ? convergence analysis, we find a high persistence of innovation gaps for international indices reported by the European Commission. Our research confirms diverging scientific potential across analyzed economies. Estimation provides evidence in case R&D expenses relative position global technological frontier. We propose simple fixed effect panel regression measuring innovativeness potential. model suggests that current ranking leaders, i.e., Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland) Germany, are likely to further outpace United States. Central Eastern achieving greatest gains but unlikely exceed 70% US Peripheral countries, South Africa, Turkey, Russia projected lose their despite weaker initial position.