In this new volume it is argued that network effects are much more common than usually assumed, and that they have a profound impact on many aspects of economic systems, especially technological change and economic growth. The analysis and modelling of this interrelationship is the central focus of this book.
While there exists a vast body of literature on economic growth, the theories put forward so far have had limited success in explaining observed patterns of economic growth. ‘Growth cycles’ in particular continue to elude standard economic models, though evolutionary economics has made some progress. Seeking to fill the gap, Torsten Heinrich’s innovative approach uses microeconomics to explain heterogeneous sectoral dynamics on the meso level, and then aggregating these to observed macroeconomic growth rates. In this way, it is shown that an evolutionary model of technological change with network effects can explain not only commonly observed asymmetric industry structures, monopolies and oligopolies but also ‘growth cycles’.
The book includes a comprehensive account of the most influential economic growth theories, a discussion of the research on network effects as well as an introduction to the methodology, the model, and a case study on the recent emergence of information and communication technology.
This important new volume will be relevant to all those interested in theoretical economics, growth theory, innovation economics, agent based modelling and industry dynamics.
By:
Torsten Heinrich
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 17
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 870g
ISBN: 9780415631105
ISBN 10: 0415631106
Series: Routledge Advances in Heterodox Economics
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 04 February 2013
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
A / AS level
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
1. Introduction: The Poor Craftsman and the Wealthy Inventor 2. Methods for an Analysis of Economic Growth and Network Effects 3. A Literature Review: Models of Economic Growth 4. Network Economies 5. A Complex Model of Growth, Technological Change, and Network Effects 6. Case Study: The ICT-Sector and Economic Growth 7. Conclusions: The Technologies, the Networks, and the Next Wave of Growth
Torsten Heinrich is Postdoctoral Lecturer and Research Assistant in the Faculty of Business Studies and Economics at the University of Bremen, Germany.
Reviews for Technological Change and Network Effects in Growth Regimes: Exploring the Microfoundations of Economic Growth
'Will be read with profit, even by experts in the fields of economics of innovation, economic dynamics (cycles and growth), agent-based modelling, the IT industry, and the micro foundations of macroeconomics. The author's compact simulation models are studded all over with sockets for plugging in one's own lines of research.' - Colin Richardson, Adjunct Professor of Economics, Centre for International Security Studies, University of Sydney
