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The Tower Of Babel? The Innovation System Approach Versus Mainstream Economics

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Author Info
Johannes Hers (Ministry of Finance, The Hague, The Netherlands)
Niek Nahuis (Ministry of Finance, The Hague, The Netherlands)

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Abstract

The Innovation systems (IS) approach and the system failures it identifies, play an important role in the design and legitimization of innovation policy. This paper analyses the usefulness of this concept. We conclude that the IS-approach can be useful to visualize the complexity of the innovation processes. However, for policy design this approach is less suited, because system failures aim at symptoms in stead of underlying incentive structures. In our view, policy design should be based on standard economic framework of market- and government failures. Theoretically, an exception is the system failure path dependency. However, the empirical evidence for the existence of this phenomenon is mixed. Furthermore, policy initiatives to tackle path dependence are likely to be subject to severe government failure.

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Paper provided by EconWPA in its series Method and Hist of Econ Thought with number 0403001.

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Length: 15 pages
Date of creation: 04 Mar 2004
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Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpmh:0403001

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Related research
Keywords: innovation policy; Innovation systems; market failure;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
O38 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Government Policy

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References listed on IDEAS
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  1. Adam B. Jaffe, 2002. "Building Programme Evaluation into the Design of Public Research-Support Programmes," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 18(1), pages 22-34, Spring.
  2. Bronwyn Hall, 2002. "The Financing of Research and Development," Department of Economics, Working Paper Series 1004, Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley. [Downloadable!]
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  3. Rodolfo Manuelli & Ananth Seshadri, 2003. "Frictionless Technology Diffusion: The Case of Tractors," NBER Working Papers 9604, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  4. Liebowitz, S J & Margolis, Stephen E, 1995. "Path Dependence, Lock-in, and History," Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(1), pages 205-26, April.
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  5. Jacobs, B. & Nahuis, R. & Tang, P.J.G., 1999. "Sectoral productivity growth and r&d spillovers in the Netherlands," Discussion Paper 15, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research. [Downloadable!]
  6. Richard R. Nelson & Sidney G. Winter, 2002. "Evolutionary Theorizing in Economics," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 16(2), pages 23-46, Spring. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. David, Paul A, 1985. "Clio and the Economics of QWERTY," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 75(2), pages 332-37, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Liebowitz, S J & Margolis, Stephen E, 1990. "The Fable of the Keys," Journal of Law & Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 33(1), pages 1-25, April.
  9. Richard E. Baldwin & Frederic Robert-Nicoud, 2002. "Entry and Asymmetric Lobbying: Why Governments Pick Losers," NBER Working Papers 8756, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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