On the role of general purpose technologies within the Marshall-Jacobs controversy: The case of nanotechnologies

Nina Menz and Ingrid Ott

No 18, Working Paper Series in Economics from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Department of Economics and Management

Abstract: This paper investigates the role of nanotechnologies as a general purpose technology for regional development. Due to pervasiveness, nanotechnologies may be utilized in diverse applications thereby providing the basis for both localization and urbanization externalities. We carry out patent and publication analyses for the city state of Hamburg during the period 1990-2010. We find evidence that nanotechnologies are advanced in the context of regional knowledge bases and follow up prevailing specialization patterns. As nanotechnologies develop both industry specific and city specific externalities become effective leading to specialization deepening and specialization widening which both are functions of the increasing nano-knowledge base.

Keywords: general purpose technology; nanotechnology; specialization; diversification; Marshall-Jacobs controversy; patent and publication analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O31 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-geo, nep-ipr and nep-pr~
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:kitwps:18

DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000022588

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