Author Description
The slowdown of growth in Western industrialized nations in the last twenty years, along with the rise of Japan as a major economic and technological power (and enhanced technical sophistication of Taiwan, Korea, and other NICs) has led to what the authors believe to be a "techno-nationalism." This combines a strong belief that technological capabilities of a nation;s firms are a key source of their competitive process, with a belief that these capabilities are in a sense national, and can be built by national action. This book is about these national systems of technical innovation. The heart of the work contains studies of seventeen countries--from large market-oriented industrialized ones to several smaller high income ones, including a number of newly industrialized states as well. Clearly written, this work highlights institutions and mechanisms which support technical innovation, showing similarities, differences, and their sources across nations, making this work accessible to students as well as the scholars of innovation.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates how national institutions and mechanisms shape the technological capabilities and economic competitiveness of diverse industrialized and newly industrialized nations. Richard R. Nelson, a prominent economist specializing in innovation, leads a collaborative effort to analyze the concept of "techno-nationalism." The authors argue that a nation's competitive advantage is fundamentally tied to its unique system of technical innovation, which can be cultivated through deliberate national policy and institutional support.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Comparative case studies of seventeen distinct national economies
- Analysis of institutional frameworks supporting research and development
- Examination of the shift from Western economic dominance to the rise of Asian technological powers
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a singular prescriptive model for all nations
- Focuses primarily on institutional and systemic factors rather than firm-level management strategies
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a foundational text in the field of innovation systems and comparative economic policy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous framework for understanding the intersection of national policy and technological growth.
Page Count:
537
Publication Date:
1993-01-01
ISBN-10:
0190281928
ISBN-13:
9780190281922
Economics
International relations
Technology and state
Trades & Technology
International business
Principles of Management
Social Aspects
Industrial Policy