The Geography of Technology Legitimation. How multi-scalar legitimation processes matter for path creation in emerging industries

Jonas Heiberg, Christian Binz and Bernhard Truffer

No 2034, Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) from Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography

Abstract: Research in economic geography has recently been challenged to adopt more institutional and multi-scalar perspectives on industrial path development. This paper contributes to this debate by integrating insights from (evolutionary) economic geography, as well as transition and innovation studies into a conceptual framework of how path creation in emerging industries depends on the availability of both knowledge and legitimacy. Unlike the extant literature, we argue here, that not only the former but also the latter may substantially depend on non-local sources, which hithero have largely been overseen. Conceptually, we distinguish between multi-scalar export, attraction and absorption of legitimacy. Coupled with conventional knowledge indicators, this approach enables us to reconstruct how not only external knowledge sourcing but also multi-scalar institutional dynamics contribute to countries’ ability to leverage the potential of different path creation constellations in an emerging industry. Methodologically, we develop legitimation indicators from a global media database, which was built around the case of modular water technologies. Cross-comparing the evidence from six key countries (India, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, UK, USA) with differing path creation constellations allows us to hypothesize how multi-scalar legitimation influences a country’s prospects for creating a radically new industrial path.

Keywords: Evolutionary economic geography; path creation; legitimation; institutional dynamics; multi-scalarity; modular water technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D85 L95 O31 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-08, Revised 2020-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-sea, nep-tid and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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