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Economic Development and Innovation: Problem-solving in Scarcity Conditions

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Listed:
  • Smita Srinivas
  • Judith Sutz

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the debate about innovation in developing countries. Innovation is not an unchanging element pervasive under all socio-economic conditions. We suggest that under the conditions of scarcity that prevail in underdevelopment—broadly understood as "not having enough" of inputs that are taken for granted in actual contexts characterized as industrialized—technological effort of a substantially different type emerges. Idiosyncratic innovative paths are followed; they may provide solutions for otherwise unsolved problems. We sketch a scarcity-induced innovation framework to give account of such paths; we suggest that this framework helps in understanding the specificity of "innovation under scarcity conditions" in developing countries. This understanding is critical for developmental purposes; we make a preliminary contribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Smita Srinivas & Judith Sutz, 2006. "Economic Development and Innovation: Problem-solving in Scarcity Conditions," CID Working Papers 13, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cid:wpfacu:13
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    technological change; scarcity; problem-solving; innovation; economic development; local needs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;

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