Leapfrogging : a Theory of Cycles in National Technological Leadership / Daniel Tsiddon, Elise Brezis, Paul Krugman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tsiddon, Daniel, author.

Brezis, Elise, author.

Krugman, Paul, author.

Series:

Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research) ; working paper number 3886.

Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research) ; working paper number 3886

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Economic development--Mathematical models.

Economic development.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (17, 2 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass : National Bureau of Economic Research, 1991.

Summary:

Much recent work has suggested that endogenous technological change tends to reinforce the position of the leading nations. Yet from time to time this leadership role shifts. We suggest a mechanism that explains this pattern of -leapfrogging- as a response to occasional major changes in technology. When such a change occurs, leading nations may have no incentive to adopt the new ideas; given their extensive experience with older technologies, the new ideas do not initially seem to be an improvement. Lagging nations, however, have less experience; the new techniques offer them an opportunity to use their lower wages, to break into the market. If the new techniques eventually prove to be more productive than the old, there is a reversal of leadership.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.