Chemicals and Long-Term Economic Growth: Insights from the Chemical Industry [Hardcover]

Ashish Arora (Editor), Ralph Landau (Editor), Nathan Rosenberg (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471182478 | ISBN-13: 978-0471182474 | Publication Date: April 8, 1998 | Edition: 1

A paperback edition of a highly successful hardcover edition, "Chemicals and Long-Term Economic Growth" examines how commercial and technological leadership in the chemical industry has developed over the last century and a half, the forces that powered this shifting leadership, and how economic and management lessons learned can help in creating policies to promote long-term economic health in the industry.
? Addresses the sources of comparative advantage and growth in the chemical industry, focusing on how these sources have varied over time, across countries, and in different industries.
? Discusses the development of new technologies and overall organization of the industry and what we can learn from them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...you could not hope to improve on a new book edited by Ashish Arora and Ralph Landau, Nathan Rosenberg... 'Chemicals and Long-term Economic Growth' is the latest in a series originating in the Stanford economics department aiming to bridge the gaps between economic theory, economic history and the application of technology." .-The Economist

"The book will be of interest to participants in the industry, economists and economic historians interested in growth, business school faculty and students concerned with corporate strategy, especially the management of technical change, and finally, policy makers who create the legal and political environment within which the industry has developed."-Dale W. Jorgenson, Frederic Eaton Abbe Professor of Economics, Harvard University

"This monograph, edited by three distinguished scholars, reflects a painstakingly thorough and insightful analysis of the global chemical industry. It provides a detailed historical treatment of competitive advantage at the level of the firm in the nation state today. It will be of great value to economic historians and economists concerned with the growth of modern industrial societies. It is must reading for executives and scholars concerned with innovation and competitiveness."-David J. Teece, Director, Institute of Management, Innovation & Organization; Mitsubishi Professor, Walter A. Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley

"The chemical industry will continue to be a leading indicator of economic development in the century ahead. The research and conclusions of Ralph Landau and his colleagues capture the structure, processes, and future of the industry and make (this) book required reading for all who follow the field." -Frank Popoff, Chairman of the Board, The Dow Chemical Company

"Chemistry is known as the 'central science'. Given the magnitude and persuasiveness of the chemical processing industry which underlies all manufacturing, this study of the dynamics of interactions among technology, economics and politics should become 'must reading' for all serious students of industrial developments." -S. Allen Heininger, Past President, American Chemical Society

"The innovativeness of the chemical industry has made it a key player in the development of the modern world economy. Analysis of the industry's long-term growth therefore gives an insight into the interaction between science, technology, and economic progress, as this book demonstrates. At the same time, the analysis offers observations that are of great practical relevance to today's issues.." -Professor Doctor Gottfried Plumpe, Bayer Corporation

From the Publisher

The chemical industry has been one of the best-managed, steadily successful, major industries for the past 150 years. By examining the history, comparative economic advantage, and growth of this economic success, important lessons may be learned and applied to today's chemical industry or any other large industry. Chemicals and Long-Term Economic Growth examines the chemical industry's growth according to the principles of comparative advantage. The book investigates the reasons why the chemistry industry has succeeded for so long while other industries have experienced highs and lows. Using specific examples and historical events, the book shows the managerial and business lessons that the chemical industry has taught, how these lessons may be applied to other fields, why a chemical industry is needed for the development of any industrial nation, and how the chemical industry can maintain its previous levels of economic excellence.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 564 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (April 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471182478
• ISBN-13: 978-0471182474
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,518,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of chemical industry development, December 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Chemicals and Long-Term Economic Growth: Insights from the Chemical Industry (Hardcover)

As a patent attorney in the chemical arts, I was fascinated by a study of the historical development of the chemical industry. The book allowed me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of European,US and Japanese educational system, financial system and natural resources and the impact these characteristics had on the development of chemical companies within each region. Today's major companies' cultures, organizations and technology development programs bear the unmistakeable impression of their region's strengths and weaknesses. This book would be of interest to anyone working in research, marketing or management in the chemical industry. This book would be of particular value for individuals in M&A and business development programs as the different corporate cultures and technology strengths should be considered prior to entering into inter-regional mergers, new market entry and/or joint development projects.