Theories and Systems Innovation

Code:

2EGIN04

Acronym:

TSI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Economics

Instance: 2012/2013 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Agrupamento Científico de Economia
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Economics and Management of Innovation

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
EGIN	43	Bologna Syllabus since 2012	1	-	7,5	56	202,5
ME	0	Bologna Syllabus	1	-	7,5	56	202,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Theories and Systems of Innovation is a course in the economics of innovation, preceded by an extended discussion on the nature of evolutionary economics. The course aims to discuss a series of innovation-related topics and is complemented by a second semester course on Innovation Policy.

Program

1. Methodological introduction: realism vs. instrumentalism.

2. The nature of evolutionary economics
The 'Generalized Darwinism' debate. Concepts of evolution in the history of economic thought: Marx, Veblen, Schumpeter, Hayek. Essential characteristics of neo-schumpeterian and evolutionary economics.

3. Innovation, economic growth and structural change
Invention, innovation and diffusion. Innovation and cycles: from Schumpeter to Freeman. Fagerberg's technology gap approach.

4. Microeconomics of innovation
The innovation process. Demand pull vs. Technology push. Uncertainty. Appropriability. Diffusion.

5. Sectoral patterns of innovation
Pavitt's taxonomy. Patterns of innovation and structural change.

6. Systems of innovation
Concept and relevance. National systems of innovation: actors, interactions and subsystems. Regional and local innovation systems: the relevance of proximity. Types of regional systems of innovation. Systems of innovation and globalization.

Mandatory literature

BELL, M. e PAVITT, K.; 'Accumulating Technological Capability in Developing Countries', in Proceedings of the World Bank Annual Conference on Development Economics 1992, World Bank, 1993
CORDES, C.; Darwinism in economics: from analogy to continuity, Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol. 16, 2006
FAGERBERG, J.; Schumpeter and the revival of evolutionary economics: an appraisal of the literature , Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol. 13, 2003
FAGERBERG, J., MOWERY, D.C. e NELSON, R.R. (eds); The Oxford Handbook of Innovation, OUP, (cap. 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 17), 2006
HODGSON, G.M.; Darwinism in economics: from analogy to ontology, Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol. 12, 2002
NELSON, R.R.; Evolutionary social science and universal Darwinism, Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol. 16, 2006
NELSON, R.R.; On the uneven evolution of human know-how, Research Policy, vol. 32, 2003
NELSON, R.R.; The market economy, and the scientific commons, Research Policy, vol. 33, 2004
NELSON, R.R., PETERHANSL, A. e SAMPAT, B.; Why and how innovations get adopted: a tale of four models, Industrial and Corporate Change, vol. 13, 2004
ROSENBERG, N.; Science, invention and economic growth, The Economic Journal, vol. 84, 1974
PAVITT, K.; Sectoral patterns of technical change: towards a taxonomy and a theory, Research Policy, vol. 13; rep. in C. Freeman (ed.), The Economics of Innovation, Edward Elgar, 1990

Complementary Bibliography

CAMAGNI, R.; 'Local Milieu, Uncertainty and Innovation Networks: Towards a New Dynamic Theory of Economic Space', in R. Camagni (ed.), Innovation Networks: Spatial Perspectives, Belhaven Press, 1991
CASTELLACCI, F.; The interactions between national systems and sectoral patterns of innovation. A cross-country analysis of Pavitt’s taxonomy., Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol. 19, 2009 (pp. 321–347)
FAGERBERG, J.; A Technology Gap Approach to Why Growth Rates Differ, Research Policy, vol. 16; rep. in C. Freeman (ed.), The Economics of Innovation, Edward Elgar, 1990
FURMAN, J.L. e HAYES, R.; Catching up or standing still? National innovative productivity among 'follower' countries, 1978-1999, Research Policy, vol. 33, 2004
HODGSON, G.M.; Economics and Evolution: Bringing Life Back into Economics, Polity Press, 1993
LAWSON, T. ; Reorienting Economics, Routledge, cap. 5, 2003
VROMEN, J.; Ontological issues in evolutionary economics: the debate between Generalized Darwinism and the Continuity Hypothesis, Papers on Economics and Evolution, #0805, Max Planck Institute of Economics, 2008
WITT, U.; On the proper interpretation of 'evolution' in economics and its implications for production theory, Journal of Economic Methodology, vol. 11, 2004
FAGERBERG, J. e VERSPAGEN, B.; Technology-gaps, innovation-diffusion and transformation: an evolutionary interpretation, Research Policy, vol. 31, 2002 (pp. 1291–1304)
FAGERBERG, J., SRHOLEC, M. e KNELL, M.; The Competitiveness of Nations: Why Some Countries Prosper While Others Fall Behind, World Development, vol. 35, nº 10, 2007 (pp. 1595–1620)

Teaching methods and learning activities

There will be lectures in the traditional sense as well as seminars, where students present and discuss selected texts.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Eligibility for exams

Students must do a seminar presentation in order to be admitted to the ordinary exam.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Mark = 0,66 E + 0,33 P

E - Ordinary exam.
P - Seminar presentations and discussions.