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The invention of invention

Author

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  • Morgan Kelly

Abstract

This paper models an industrial revolution as a qualitative transition from a world where innovation is infrequent and haphazard to one where it is continuous and systematic. Pre-industrial innovation is treated as a social process where an individual's effectiveness as an innovator depends on the skills of other individuals in his social network. As technology improves, individuals invest more time in learning through social contact. This gradual increase in linkage formation leads to a sudden change in the size of knowledge networks from small, isolated clusters, to a large connected cluster spanning most of the economy, causing a sudden increase in the effectiveness of innovation: an industrial revolution. The predicted sequence of typical innovators - from gifted amateurs, to lucky amateurs, to professionals - is consistent with empirical evidence. This paper is part of the International Trade and Investment Programme of the Geary Institute at UCD.

Suggested Citation

  • Morgan Kelly, 2005. "The invention of invention," Working Papers 200515, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucn:wpaper:200515
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    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/950
    File Function: First version, 2005
    Download Restriction: no
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    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. links for 2010-11-15
      by Jim in Our Word is Our Weapon on 2010-11-16 09:03:25

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Attar, M. Aykut, 2015. "Entrepreneurship, knowledge, and the industrial revolution," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 9, pages 1-54.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industrial revolution; Social networks; Innovation; Industrial revolution; Technological innovations; Social networks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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