Abstract

This paper establishes a model, where up-stream firms 'produce' drastic innovations and down-stream firms specialize in final goods production. A drastic innovation obsolesces the existing technology but down-stream firms can improve it by their incremental innovations. The economy develops in waves, where each wave is surged by a great leap forward in technology and followed by a sequential of adjustments. It is found that if next drastic innovation comes sooner, efforts in current drastic innovation fall but efforts in incremental innovations rise. More investment by down-stream firms in incremental R&D reduces up-stream firms' incentives in drastic R&D. The comparative static analysis shows that a reduction in the expnsiveness of drastic innovation, and an increase in the sale of down-stream firms and in the insignificance of drastic innovation and in the duration of a drastic technology will raise (reduce) drastic (incremental) R&D efforts.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.