Final answer:
Jared Diamond's statement is false; he actually claims that innovations spread faster east-to-west, not north-to-south, due to similar climates along those lines which facilitate the transfer of technologies and crops.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that innovations spread faster north to south than east to west according to Jared Diamond is actually false. In his book Guns, Germs, and Steel, Diamond argues that the axes of continents affect the rate at which innovations spread, with east-to-west having a faster spread than north-to-south. This is because similar climates, ecosystems, and day lengths are found over larger distances along east-west axes than along north-south axes, making it easier for crops, animals, and technologies to spread. However, not everyone agrees with Diamond's theory. Critics, including economists, have pointed out that innovation tends to cluster in geographically attractive areas regardless of continental axes, resulting in economic disparities.