Technological Innovation and the Great Depression [Hardcover]

Rick Szostak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1995 | ISBN-10: 0813389410 | ISBN-13: 978-0813389417

Combining a theoretical approach with industry-level analysis, this work provides an explanation of the causes of the Great Depression. The author describes how the paucity of new-produce innovation, coupled with the abundance of process technology, caused both consumption and investment to fall so precipitously from early in 1929. He also explores trends in income distribution and population, as well as other factors, and argues that the lack of new-product technology meant that there were too few opportunities for entrepreneurs profitably to employ the jobless at any wage above subsistence level.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Westview Pr (Short Disc) (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813389410
• ISBN-13: 978-0813389417
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,549,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rick Szostak joined the Department of Economics at the University of Alberta in 1985. His B.A. is from McGill and his PhD from Northwestern University. Szostak's research interests span the fields of economic history, methodology, history of technology, ethics, study of science, information science, and especially the theory and practice of interdisciplinarity. He has served on the Board of the Association for Integrative Studies for most of the last decade and is President 2011-3. He has served on the governing councils of the interdisciplinary programs in Humanities Computing, Science Technology and Society, and Religious Studies at the University of Alberta. He has spent sabbatical leaves at the University of New South Wales and European University Institute in Florence. In 2007, he taught at the University of Alberta Faculty of Arts study-abroad program in Cortona, Italy. He is the author of 10 books and over 30 journal articles. His current research agenda is described on his web page, Department of Economics, University of Alberta.