The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Technological evolution as creative destruction of process heterogeneity: evidence from US plant level data

Technological evolution as creative destruction of process heterogeneity: evidence from US plant level data
Technological evolution as creative destruction of process heterogeneity: evidence from US plant level data
Change in evolutionary economics is predicated on the creative destruction of variety. Despite the importance of the concept of variety, or heterogeneity, in evolutionary economic theory, empirical work that examines the character of variety – its extent and its persistence – is still scarce. Drawing on unpublished, micro-level data from the US Bureau of the Census, this paper examines the characteristics of process heterogeneity in selected US manufacturing industries. More specifically the paper has three goals. First, to demonstrate that heterogeneity in plant technologies exists and that it persists over time even within relatively mature industrial sectors. Second, to examine the veracity of the processes that generate and destroy heterogeneity in production technology within narrowly defined industries. Third, to link the heterogeneity of plant-level techniques of production to the pace and direction of technological change at the level of the industry.
Evolutionary economics, heterogeneity, technological change, LRD
25-45
Essletzbichler, J.
9cc8458b-a2ed-40e3-8459-c801117a56ec
Rigby, D.
e25bb358-f095-42ee-9c82-b4c9012eae6b
Essletzbichler, J.
9cc8458b-a2ed-40e3-8459-c801117a56ec
Rigby, D.
e25bb358-f095-42ee-9c82-b4c9012eae6b

Essletzbichler, J. and Rigby, D. (2005) Technological evolution as creative destruction of process heterogeneity: evidence from US plant level data. Economic Systems Research, 17 (1), 25-45. (doi:10.1080/09535310500034168).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Change in evolutionary economics is predicated on the creative destruction of variety. Despite the importance of the concept of variety, or heterogeneity, in evolutionary economic theory, empirical work that examines the character of variety – its extent and its persistence – is still scarce. Drawing on unpublished, micro-level data from the US Bureau of the Census, this paper examines the characteristics of process heterogeneity in selected US manufacturing industries. More specifically the paper has three goals. First, to demonstrate that heterogeneity in plant technologies exists and that it persists over time even within relatively mature industrial sectors. Second, to examine the veracity of the processes that generate and destroy heterogeneity in production technology within narrowly defined industries. Third, to link the heterogeneity of plant-level techniques of production to the pace and direction of technological change at the level of the industry.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: March 2005
Keywords: Evolutionary economics, heterogeneity, technological change, LRD

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 15706
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/15706
PURE UUID: cbfce9c5-45c4-4b3c-8fdb-051aacacb0d2

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 25 May 2005
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 05:42

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: J. Essletzbichler
Author: D. Rigby

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×