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General Purpose Technologies as an emergent property

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  • Korzinov, Vladimir
  • Savin, Ivan
Abstract
We address the emergence of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs), the process which has been largely neglected in the literature on technological change. We do this from a novel network-based perspective emphasizing the relations between technologies and how combinations of those technologies form final goods. Transforming GPT emergence into a question of technology adoption we demonstrate that GPTs are more likely to emerge when certain conditions with regard to the following techno-economic factors are met: knowledge diffusion, concentration of R&D efforts and variation in the rank of expected returns on products. Focusing solely on a discovery process our model demonstrates an impressive fit to real data reproducing a number of stylised facts including technological lock-ins, S-shaped curves of technology adoption, temporal clustering of innovations and distinct features of empirical networks of relatedness among technologies and products.

Suggested Citation

  • Korzinov, Vladimir & Savin, Ivan, 2018. "General Purpose Technologies as an emergent property," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 88-104.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:129:y:2018:i:c:p:88-104
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2017.12.011
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    Cited by:

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    4. Elona Marku & Manuel Castriotta & Michela Loi & Maria Chiara Di Guardo, 2021. "General Purpose Technology: The Blockchain Domain," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(11), pages 192-192, July.
    5. Liu, Yong & Du, Jun-liang & Yang, Jin-bi & Qian, Wu-yong & Forrest, Jeffrey Yi-Lin, 2019. "An incentive mechanism for general purpose technologies R&D based on the concept of super-conflict equilibrium: Empirical evidence from nano industrial technology in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 185-197.
    6. Zheng, Yuelong & Zhou, Bingjie & Hao, Chen & Gao, Ruize & Li, Mengya, 2024. "Evolutionary game analysis on the cross-organizational cooperative R&D strategy of general purpose technologies under two-way collaboration," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    General purpose technology; Technology networks; Pervasiveness of technologies; Knowledge diffusion; Innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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