Course 2008-2009 a.y.

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is introducing third year students to the vast and growing literature on innovation and industrial dynamics. This course will look at how innovation impact on sectoral and firm-level dynamics. The first part of the course looks at the impact of innovation on the wider economic system, and over time: it analyses the unfolding of the so-called long waves of economic development, focusing on how technical change generates long-term productivity gains through the generation of new industrial sectors, and the demise of traditional ones. The second part of the course provides an overview of the main innovative trends in a variety of sectors, such as computers, semiconductors, medical devices, software, bio-pharmaceuticals, finance and services. The third part focuses on the relationship between innovation and macro-level issues, such as environmental change, growth, employment and policy.

This course goes for breadth' (i.e. range of topics), rather than depth (i.e. details of any specific topic). It is meant to be as an introductory course to students with limited background in the innovation studies tradition. The level of formalism will be low. The extent of interaction and discussion high.

This course's key learning objectives are as follows:

• Acquire the basic jargon necessary to discuss, in a consistent and rigorous way, innovation issues
• Understand the role that innovation and technical change play in fostering competitiveness, growth and development
• Recognize sectoral-level specificities in the sources of innovation, and their consequences for practice and policy.

Course Content Summary

• The rise of science-related technologies
• Long waves of economic development
• Sectoral systems of innovation
• Technology and growth
• Technology and environmental change
• Technology and employment

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Students have the option to take the general exam at the end of course; or take two partial exams and write a term paper to be submitted at the end of the course.

Textbooks

• D. Mowery, R. Nelson, Sources of Industrial Leadership - Studies of Seven Industries, Cambridge University Press, 1999

Additional readings on specific topics are provided at the beginning of the
course.