Knowledge creation has been a pivotal ingredient of endogenous growth theory to understand differences in standards of living across countries. Yet, the identification of key drivers explaining cross-country differences in knowledge creation still remains a topic of central interest in this research field. In this paper, I provide a framework to hypothesize and empirically test the persistent effects of novelty-seeking traits on cross-country differences in scientific knowledge creation. The results suggest a positive and statistically significant relationship between both outcomes that is consistent with the hypothesis that the prevalence of novelty-seeking traits in society facilitates scientific knowledge creation through beneficial human behaviors related to risk-taking and explorative behavior. The empirical findings remain qualitatively unaffected when controlling for additional historical, biogeographical, and socioeconomic factors that appear as additional important determinants in the creation of scientific knowledge in society.

知识创造一直是内生增长理论的关键要素，以了解各国生活水平的差异。然而，确定解释知识创造的跨国差异的关键驱动因素仍然是该研究领域的核心兴趣。在本文中，我提供了一个框架来假设和实证检验求新特征对科学知识创造的跨国差异的持续影响。结果表明，这两种结果之间存在积极且具有统计学意义的关系，这与社会中寻求新奇特征的流行通过与冒险和探索行为相关的有益人类行为促进科学知识创造的假设一致。