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Forms of Technical Change

Author

Listed:
  • M Webber

    (Department of Geography, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia)

  • E Sheppard

    (Department of Geography, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • D Rigby

    (Department of Geography, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA)

Abstract

Technical change arises from three sources: innovation within firms; changes in the relative size of firms with different technologies; and the entry and exit of firms, which again carry different technologies. These sources of technical change have different causes and are controlled by different factors. The rate of technical change therefore depends on the relative mix of these different sources and on the factors that control them. In this paper a method is described whereby the sources may be identified and measured, and an empirical illustration of that method is provided. This example is unique, nevertheless questions are raised about the empirical validity of some interpretations of the productivity slowdown in the 1970s and 1980s.

Suggested Citation

  • M Webber & E Sheppard & D Rigby, 1992. "Forms of Technical Change," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 24(12), pages 1679-1709, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:24:y:1992:i:12:p:1679-1709
    DOI: 10.1068/a241679
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giovanni Dosi & Christopher Freeman & Richard Nelson & Gerarld Silverberg & Luc Soete (ed.), 1988. "Technical Change and Economic Theory," LEM Book Series, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy, number dosietal-1988, March.
    2. Samuel Hollander, 1965. "The Sources of Increased Efficiency: A Study of DuPont Rayon Plants," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 026258235x, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pierre-Alexandre Balland & Ron Boschma & Joan Crespo & David L. Rigby, 2017. "Smart Specialization policy in the EU: Relatedness, Knowledge Complexity and Regional Diversification," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1717, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jul 2017.
    2. Elena Cefis & Cristina Bettinelli & Alex Coad & Orietta Marsili, 2022. "Understanding firm exit: a systematic literature review," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 423-446, August.
    3. David L. Rigby & Micheal J. Webber, 1997. "The forms and determinants of technological change in US manufacturing†," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(4), pages 273-298, January.
    4. Essletzbichler Jürgen, 2012. "Generalized Darwinism, group selection and evolutionary economic geography," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 56(1-2), pages 129-146, October.
    5. David Rigby, 2012. "The Geography of Knowledge Relatedness and Technological Diversification in U.S. Cities," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1218, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Oct 2012.
    6. Jurgen Essletzbichler & David Rigby, 2005. "Technological evolution as creative destruction of process heterogeneity: evidence from US plant-level data," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 25-45.
    7. Botchie, David & Sarpong, David & Meissner, Dirk, 2022. "Chain upgrading, technology transfer, and legitimacy: The Schumpeterian character of China in the information and communication technology sector in SSA," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).

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