The Politics of Innovation: Why Some Countries Are Better Than Others at Science and Technology

449 Pages·2016·3.78 MB·English

by  Mark Zachary Taylor

The Politics of Innovation

The Politics of Innovation
Why Some Countries Are Better Than Others
at Science and Technology
MARK ZACHARY TAYLOR
1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Taylor, Mark Zachary.
Title: The politics of innovation: why some countries are better than others
at science and technology / Mark Zachary Taylor.
Description: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, [2016]
| Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015043791 (print) | LCCN 2015045387 (ebook)
| ISBN 978–0–19–046412–7 (hardcover: alk. paper) | ISBN 978–0–19–046413–4 (pbk.: alk. paper)
| ISBN 978–0–19–046414–1 (E-book) | ISBN 978–0–19–046415–8 (E-book)
| ISBN 978–0–19–060925–2 (Online Component)
Subjects: LCSH: Science and state. | Technology and state.
Classification: LCC Q125 .T34 2016 (print) | LCC Q125 (ebook)
| DDC 338.9/26—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015043791
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed by Webcom, Canada
This book is dedicated to D. Allan Bromley, who dared to take a risk on me
when I was young and overly ambitious; and to James Burke, Joel Mokyr,
and Richard R. Nelson, who have for years inspired me with fascinating
scholarship and wonderful prose.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Country Codes xi
PART ONE CARDWELL’S LAW
1. Introduction— The Puzzle of Cardwell’s Law 3
2. Measuring the Black Box 25
3. Cardwell’s Law in Action 40
PART TWO HOW DO NATIONS INNOVATE?—
POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS
4. Does Technology Need Government?— The Five Pillars
of Innovation 69
5. “Why Nations Fail”— Capitalism, Democracy,
and Decentralization 107
6. How Nations Succeed— Networks, Clusters, and Standards 140
PART THREE WHY DO NATIONS
INNOVATE?—C REATIVE INSECURITY
7. Technological Losers and Political Resistance to Innovation 183
vii
viii Contents
8. Creative Insecurity— Olson’s Nemesis 215
9. Critical Cases of Creative Insecurity 243
10. Conclusion— Creative Insecurity and Its Implications 275
APPENDICES DEFINITIONS, MEASUREMENT, AND DATA
Appendix 1. The Great Definitions (Non)Debate 301
Appendix 2. A Brief History of Innovation Measurement 310
Appendix 3. Tour of Innovation Measures, Data, and Sources 318
Notes 331
References 365
Index 403
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, thanks to Dan Winship, my friends, and my family, who sup-
ported (and tolerated) me during the tumultuous years of writing this book.
Without them, it simply could not have been written.
To my mentors who have supported me throughout the very tough process
of building my research program which led to this book, I wish to thank: Dan
Breznitz, Richard Doner, David Hart, Julia Lane, Michael Piore, and J. P. Singh.
An enormous debt is also owed to those leading scholars who took the time to
give me guidance and advice over the years: Alice Amsden, Sheila Jasanoff, Loet
Leydesdorff, Robert Litan, Ben Martin, Joel Mokyr, Richard R. Nelson, Daniel
Sarewitz, Phil Shapira, Merritt Roe Smith, Robert Solow, and Paula Stephan.
People who thoughtfully read and critique entire drafts of manuscripts
deserve a special place in the afterlife. I give my nominations to Roselyn Hsueh,
David McBride, Michael Murphree, Abe Newman, Darius Ornston, and Dan
Winship.
Each individual chapter has its own specialty and focus. To those experts
who read and advised me in their particular subject area, I give thanks to: Dan
Breznitz, Chappell Lawson, Austin Long, Sean O’Riain, Michael Piore, Jeremy
Pressman, Jonathan Rodden, Lawrence Rubin, Andrew Schrank, James Snyder,
and Adam Stulberg. For their advice on the introduction, I also thank Mia
Bloom, Jenna Jordan, and Scott Winship. Much appreciation also goes to Chad
Stolper who assisted in bringing my tables and figures up to professional quality.
To those who pointed me toward important resources or provided valu-
able advice over the years, I thank: Jonathan D. Aronson, David Art, Paul
Baker, Suzanne Berger, Chris Bosso, Shiri Breznitz, David Burbach, Clayton
Christensen, Diego Comin, Peter F. Cowhey, Susan Cozzens, Mary Daly, Steven
Epstein, Miki Fabry, Kaye Husbands Fealing, Harvey B. Feigenbaum, Maryann
Feldman, Kenneth Flamm, Erica Fuchs, Jeffrey L. Furman, James K. Galbraith,
John Garver, Eugene Gholz, Benoit Godin, Christopher Gore, Peter Gourevitch,
ix