Why do nations produce science advances and new technology?

Mario Coccia

Technology in Society, 2019, vol. 59, issue C

Abstract: One of the interesting questions in the field of social sciences is to explain why nations produce science advances and new technology that generate economic and social change. This paper endeavors to clarify some drivers of science and technology (S&T) of nations. The thesis of this paper is that nations produce science advances and new technology to endorse a socio economic power and leadership directed to take advantage of important opportunities or to cope with environmental threats in competitive settings. In general, science advances and new technology are due to organized social and economic efforts of nations to achieve breakthroughs directed to support national interests of institutions and wellbeing of population. In particular, the production of science advances and new technology is driven by individuals, which have the natural tendency to seek out novelty and challenges, to explore, to learn and to achieve goals within efficient organizations in line with national interests. Preliminary empirical evidence here seems to support the factors underlying motivations of nations to produce science advances and new technology in society. Overall, then this paper may form a ground work for development of more sophisticated studies and theoretical frameworks that explain the drivers of S&T in society.

Keywords: Science advances; Scientific research; New technology; Technological ecosystem; Social power; Global leadership; Evolution of science; Global leadership; Economics of science; Political economy of science; Commercialization of science; R&D investments; Technological change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 N3 O30 O31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:teinso:v:59:y:2019:i:c:s0160791x18303300

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.03.007

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