Technology, Growth, and Development: An Induced Innovation Perspective [Hardcover]

Vernon W. Ruttan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195118715 | ISBN-13: 978-0195118711 | Publication Date: September 14, 2000

Technology, Growth, and Development uniquely presents the complexities of technical and institutional change on the foundation of modern growth theory. The author shows how the rates and directions of technical change are induced by changes in competitive funding and institutional innovations in the modern research university and industrial laboratory. In turn, technical change itself becomes a powerful source of institutional change. Organized by the author in four parts, the first-Productivity and Economic Growth-gives specific reasons for the slowing of productivity growth in the United States and other leading industrial countries during the last quarter of the twentieth century. In Part II-Sources of Technical Change-the author examines a host of economic factors that influence invention and innovation; the rate and direction of institutional change; and the adoption, diffusion, and transfer of technology. In Part III-Technical Innovation and Industrial Change-he traces the sources and impact of technical change in five strategically important industries: agriculture, electric power, chemical, computer, and biotechnology. The final section, Part IV-Technology Policy-evaluates the role of technical change in international competition, the role of science and technology in environmental policy, and the evolution of U.S. science and technology policy. Technology, Growth, and Development makes few mathematical demands on students, and will be used in courses within economics departments as well as management and public affairs. In addition, it will be required reading for professional economists, managers, and policy analysts at all levels.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This big book is the product of a lifetime of serious and creative scholarship. I can think of no other scholar who has worked more systematically, and with greater dedication, to illuminate the multiple and sometimes elusive aspects of technological change than Vernon Ruttan."--Nathan Rosenberg, Department of Economics, Stanford University

"Vernon Ruttan has written an encyclopedic volume on the role of technology in economic growth in both industrialized and poorer countries. The book contains a superb integration of the recent insights of new growth theory and detailed studies of the process of technological innovation at the microeconomic level. The extraordinary scope of the volume ranges from new insights on the extent to which the U.S. consumer price index is affected by technical change to a detailed examination of the development of the microprocessor. Intensive studies of developments in chemical industries, agricultural technology, and dozens of other industries provide the empirical underpinning for a masterful discussion of induced innovation. This book will be the starting point for all researchers interested in further studies in the area." --Howard Pack, The Wharton School, The University of Pennsylvania

"Worthy of a Nobel Prize."-Rondo Cameron, William Rand Kenan University Professor Emeritus, Emory University

"A necessary reading for all students interested in economic development."--Peter Chow, The City College of New York

About the Author

Vernon W. Ruttan is at University of Minnesota.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 672 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (September 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195118715
• ISBN-13: 978-0195118711
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #758,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you ever wanted to know about technology, October 17, 2000

By 

Arnulf Grubler (Vienna, Austria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technology, Growth, and Development: An Induced Innovation Perspective (Hardcover)

This great book contains everything you ever wanted to know about the interplay between technology, economic growth, development, and the environment.

The book stands strong, treating both theory as well as empirical case studies comprehensively. It's full treatment of theory and exhaustive bibliography make the book THE introductory text book for any university curriculum. Extremely valuable cases studies - that will appeal also to the practitioner - are provided for agricultural innovations, biotechnologies, semiconductors, heat and power, and the chemical industry. Finally, the book blends in nicely also chapters on technology, differences in national systems of innovations and in the international diffusion of technology, as well as sustainable development issues.

In short: a reference book, well written and here to last. Thanks Vernon!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Technology, Growth and Development, November 28, 2000

By 

Howard Pack (University of Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Technology, Growth, and Development: An Induced Innovation Perspective (Hardcover)

This is an encyclopedic volume on the role of technology in economic growth in both advanced and poorer countries. The extraordinary scope of the volume includes new insights on the role of the microprocessor and molecular biology in economic growth. This book will be the starting point for all readers interested in the role of technology in the growth process.