Table of Contents

List of figures; Preface; Introduction; Part I. Dealing With an Uncertain Future: 1. Path-dependent aspects of technological change; 2. Charles Babbage: pioneer economist; 3. Joseph Schumpeter: radical economist; 4. Technological innovation and long waves; Part II. Technology in Context: 5. Economic experiments; 6. Why in America?; 7. Can Americans learn to become better imitators?; 8. Critical issues in science policy research; Part III. Sectoral Studies in Technological Change: 9. Energy-efficient technologies: past and future perspectives; 10. Innovation in the chemical processing industries; 11. Telecommunications: complex, uncertain, and path-dependent; 12. Understanding the adoption of new technology in the forest products industry; 13. Scientific instrumentation and university research; Index.

Promotional Information

This book presents a unique account of how technological change is generated and introduced into economic activity.

Reviews

'If you read nothing else on technological innovation, you will not go wrong by reading Rosenberg. One of the great virtues of his work is that it is easily accessible to the general reader.' Nature