Expanding the scope of prosumption: A framework for analysing potential contributions from advances in materials technologies

Stephen Fox and Leijun Li

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2012, vol. 79, issue 4, 721-733

Abstract: A framework for analysing advances in materials technologies is introduced. This framework is used to underpin forecasting related to the expansion of prosumption. The term, prosumption, refers to the social change of individuals being directly involved in the design and production of the goods that they consume. It is explained why expanding the scope of this important social change depends much upon advances in materials technologies. The framework that is introduced addresses the limitations of extant methods. Firstly, the framework is oriented specifically to prosumption. It addresses fundamental factors that determine whether advances in materials technologies can better enable expansion of prosumption: chemical compositions, internal microstructures, shaping complexities, and surface characteristics. Secondly, application of the framework is not restricted to a particular type of materials technologies. Thirdly, its format is straightforward. The framework is explained through two cases of forecasting concerned with the expansion of prosumption. These forecasts were made in 2003, and were found to be accurate during subsequent years.

Keywords: Prosumption; Materials technologies; Analytical framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162511002204
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:79:y:2012:i:4:p:721-733

DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2011.10.006

Access Statistics for this article

Technological Forecasting and Social Change is currently edited by Fred Phillips

More articles in Technological Forecasting and Social Change from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().