The elusive concept of innovation for Schumpeter, Marschak and the early econometricians

Francisco Louçã ()

Research Policy, 2014, vol. 43, issue 8, 1442-1449

Abstract: The modern concept of innovation is a crucial part of the analysis of capitalism as an adaptive system, and it is due to Schumpeter. Consequently, Schumpeter's role as a “prophet of innovation” has been rightly emphasized. This paper contributes to that history presenting some of the difficulties Schumpeter suffered as a formal representation of innovation was proposed by his fellow econometricians, as proved by the case of one of such dialogs, that with Jacob Marschak, at the time the director of the Cowles Commission and vice-president and then president of the Econometric Society. It is shown how Schumpeter elaborated his concepts of endogenous innovation and of industrial mutation as contrasted to the mechanical view of his fellow econometricians. Finally, the paper emphasizes the changes of the concept of randomness through the debate.

Keywords: Innovation; Randomness; Schumpeter; Marschak; Econometrics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:43:y:2014:i:8:p:1442-1449

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2014.02.002

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