The measurement of innovative activity is a critical issue of the analysis of technological change. The first part of this dissertation argues that the standard distinction between producer and user sectors of innovation is a necessary but not sufficient condition to obtain a satisfactory accounting framework of technological change. A further distinction between the subjects (such as firms) and the objects (the innovations themselves) of technological change is needed. An empirical application is provided with a matrix of patents by firms and technological fields which allows to find out "who innovates where" in the Italian economy. Using technological indicators such as R&D. patenting and a survey on 24.000 Italian business units. the second part of the thesis identifies the quantitative characteristics of the Italian innovation system. An international comparison of the technological potential of the country is performed. and it shows that Italy is still lagging behind the most advanced countries in the volume of her technological activities. Her sectoral strengths are to be found in mature technologies while her weaknesses are in fields, such as electronics and information technologies, expected to have a growing impact on future economic development. The industrial organization underlying Italian technological specialization is also considered, showing that the country's fields of excellence are seldom related to the innovative activities of the largest firms. No significant connection emerged between the degree of industries' concentration on the one hand and technological specialization on the other. The sources of innovative activity are- identified, and significant cross-industry and cross-size differences emerged. A taxonomy by industries is presented where concentration ratios, the nature and sources of innovation are taken as distinguishing criteria. This taxonomy, rather than stressing the role of small or large firms, suggests that sectoral differences explain more than it is generally believed in understanding technological change in Italy.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:303220 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Archibugi, Daniele |
| Publisher | University of Sussex |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0018 seconds