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Technological lock-in of large firms since the interwar period

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  • CANTWELL, JOHN

Abstract

Since technology is localised and context-specific, the technological trajectories of large firms tend to lock-in to particular national configurations. This article examines evidence on the industrial patterns of technological development in the largest firms originating from the US, Germany, the UK, France, Switzerland and Sweden, through their corporate patenting in the US since 1920. It is shown that in each national group the profile of development is path-dependent, but with some selected convergence between groups leading to the formation of three clusters of groups (the US and UK, German and Swiss, and French and Swedish) that share common characteristics.

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  • Cantwell, John, 2000. "Technological lock-in of large firms since the interwar period," European Review of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(2), pages 147-174, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:ereveh:v:4:y:2000:i:02:p:147-174_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Yuandi & Ning, Lutao & Prevezer, Martha, 2015. "Technological diversification in China from 1986 to 2011: Evidence from patent data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 54-66.
    2. John Cantwell & Rajneesh Narula, 2001. "The Eclectic Paradigm in the Global Economy," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 155-172.
    3. John Cantwell & Elena Kosmopoulou, 2001. "Determinants of Internationalisation of Corporate Technology," DRUID Working Papers 01-08, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    4. Cantwell, John & Vertova, Giovanna, 2004. "Historical evolution of technological diversification," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 511-529, April.
    5. Jin, Byungchae, 2019. "Country-level technological disparities, market feedback, and scientists’ choice of technologies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 385-400.
    6. Byungchae Jin & Francisco García & Robert Salomon, 2019. "Inward foreign direct investment and local firm innovation: The moderating role of technological capabilities," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(5), pages 847-855, July.
    7. Cantwell, John & Piscitello, Lucia, 2002. "The location of technological activities of MNCs in European regions: The role of spillovers and local competencies," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 69-96.
    8. Giovanni Dosi & Marco Faillo & Luigi Marengo, 2003. "Organizational Capabilities, Patterns of Knowledge Accumulation and Governance Structures in Business Firms. An Introduction," LEM Papers Series 2003/11, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    9. Blomkvist, Katarina & Kappen, Philip & Zander, Ivo, 2014. "Superstar inventors—Towards a people-centric perspective on the geography of technological renewal in the multinational corporation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 669-682.
    10. Giovanni Dosi & Luigi Marengo, 2007. "Perspective---On the Evolutionary and Behavioral Theories of Organizations: A Tentative Roadmap," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(3), pages 491-502, June.
    11. Grant Fleming & Frank Liu & David Merrett & Simon Ville, 2022. "Australian Innovative Activity and Offshore Technology 1904 – 2016," CEH Discussion Papers 09, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.

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