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741. YouTube War: Fighting in a World of Cameras in Every Cell Phone and Photoshop on Every Computer

Author:
Cori E. Dauber
Publication Date:
11-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College
Abstract:
There is a vast literature on the potential for new technologies to create a Revolution in Military Affairs or “networked warfare,” but that is a discussion of the impact of military technology on the way the force itself can be used. Today there is a question regarding the impact of new communication and information technologies in the hands of civilians—some of whom are combatants—on the environment in which the force will be used. This monograph argues that the impact of these technologies has been, and will be, great enough that the way they are shaping the battlefield needs to be understood.
Topic:
Security, Science and Technology, Terrorism, and War
Political Geography:
United States

742. Online Discourse in the Arab World: Dispelling The Myths

Author:
Joel Whitaker and Anand Varghese
Publication Date:
12-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
United States Institute of Peace
Abstract:
In an event titled "Online Discourse in the Arab World: Dispelling the Myths," the U.S. Institute of Peace's Center of Innovation for Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding, in collaboration with Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet Society, presented findings from an unprecedented, comprehensive mapping of the Arabic-language blogosphere.
Topic:
Science and Technology
Political Geography:
United States, Middle East, and Arabia

743. Climategate and Climate Science

Author:
Kenneth P. Green and Steven F. Hayward
Publication Date:
12-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
Abstract:
AEI's environmental team has been especially busy lately responding to numerous press inquiries about the “Climategate” scandal. We reprint below two pieces, one by Steven F. Hayward that appeared in The Weekly Standard, and another by Kenneth P. Green, which appeared on The American. Hayward's piece was mentioned prominently on Fox News Sunday. Green also testified on the science of global warming recently before the Senate Committee on Finance. In addition, Samuel Thernstrom and Lee Lane, who are codirecting AEI's Geo engineering Project, have been following the developments and commenting on them. AEI released an updated version of its Public Opinion Study “Polls on the Environment and Global Warming,” which shows that, even before the latest controversy, opinion about the seriousness of global warming had declined sharply in several recent polls.
Topic:
Climate Change, Environment, and Science and Technology
Political Geography:
America

744. Challenges To Technology Transfer: A Literature Review Of The Constraints On Environmental Technology Dissemination

Author:
Kristina M. Lybecker and Daniel K.N. Johnson
Publication Date:
08-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Department of Economics and Business, Colorado College
Abstract:
This paper considers the challenges to the dissemination of environmental innovation. Following a brief exploration of the legal and regulatory regimes surrounding environmental technologies, the paper examines diffusion mechanisms, market factors, social characteristics and political elements that facilitate and complicate dissemination. Given the importance of innovation to economic development and growth, the diffusion of innovation is of great interest to economists and policymakers alike.
Topic:
Economics, Environment, and Science and Technology

745. Complex, Historical, Self-reflexive: Expect the Unexpected!

Author:
Wolfgang Streeck and Sandra Mitchell
Publication Date:
12-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies
Abstract:
The object world of the social sciences is complex, historical and self-reflexive. It generates nonlinear effects, it is unique, and it is able to understand the theories developed about it and respond to them intentionally. Recognizing the emergent, historically contingent and self-organizing nature of the social world, and developing responsive policy vehicles for managing its complexity, requires a shift in our conception of science in general and of economics in particular.
Topic:
Economics, Political Economy, Science and Technology, and Political Theory

746. A New Geography of Knowledge in the Electronics Industry? Asia\'s Role in Global Innovation Networks

Author:
Dieter Ernst
Publication Date:
08-2009
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
East-West Center
Abstract:
Political debates about globalization are focused on offshore outsourcing of manufacturing and services. But these debates neglect an important change in the geography of knowledge––the emergence of global innovation networks (GINs) that integrate dispersed engineering, product development, and research activities across geographic borders.
Topic:
Emerging Markets, Globalization, Industrial Policy, International Trade and Finance, and Science and Technology
Political Geography:
Asia

747. China's Transition to a Knowledge Economy (pdf)

Author:
Sangaralingam Ramesh
Publication Date:
02-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
School of Oriental and African Studies - University of London
Abstract:
The Coastal regions of China have benefited more from reform policies associated with China’s research and educational sectors. These reforms were put in place to ensure that the results of knowledge creation activities from universities and research institutes ‘spilled over’ into the entrepreneurial economy. Human Capital is important to any knowledge activity whether creation or transfer. The development of Human Capital is through education .This factor may ultimately be responsible for long term growth by technological innovation .In this context it is necessary to discuss the two dominant schools of thought regarding economic growth before considering other aspects of knowledge spillovers.
Topic:
Science and Technology, Reform, Capitalism, Human Capital, and Innovation
Political Geography:
China and Asia

748. Intellectual Property and Public Health: An Overview of the Debate with a Focus on U.S. Policy

Author:
Carsten Fink
Publication Date:
06-2008
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center for Global Development
Abstract:
Over the past fifteen years, the United States and other developed countries have employed trade agreements to substantially strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical products in the developing world. The associated rules changes have already had an effect on pharmaceutical prices in developing countries, prompting conflicts between developing country governments seeking to promote drug access and Western pharmaceutical companies wishing to protect their exclusive rights. If anything, such conflicts are bound to intensify as more patent protected drugs enter pharmaceutical markets outside rich countries. This paper describes the global shift in intellectual property policies and employs economic analysis to evaluate its consequences for developing countries. It also puts forward several recommendations for policymakers in developing countries and in the United States, seeking to better reconcile innovation incentives and access needs.
Topic:
Economics, Health, and Science and Technology
Political Geography:
United States

749. Technological Regimes, Schumpeterian Patterns of Innovation and Firm Level Productivity Growth

Author:
Fulvio Castellacci and Jinghai Zheng
Publication Date:
03-2008
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:
The paper investigates the relationships between technological regimes and firm-level productivity performance, and it explores how such a relationship differs in different Schumpeterian patterns of innovation. The analysis makes use of a rich dataset containing data on innovation and other economic characteristics of a large representative sample of Norwegian firms in manufacturing and service industries for the period 1998-2004. First, we decompose TFP growth into technical progress and efficiency changes by means of data envelopment analysis. We then estimate an empirical model that relates these two productivity components to the characteristics of technological regimes and a set of other firm-specific factors. The results indicate that: (1) TFP growth has mainly been achieved through technical progress, while technical efficiency has on average decreased; (2) the characteristics of technological regimes are important determinants of firm-level productivity growth, but their impacts on technical progress are different from the effects on efficiency change; (3) the estimated model works differently in the two Schumpeterian regimes. Technical progress has been more dynamic in Schumpeter Mark II industries, while efficiency change has been more important in Schumpeter Mark I markets.
Topic:
Economics and Science and Technology
Political Geography:
Europe and Norway

750. Technology Clubs, Technology Gaps and Growth Trajectories

Author:
Fulvio Castellacci
Publication Date:
04-2008
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:
This paper looks at the convergence clubs literature from a Schumpeterian perspective, and it follows the idea that cross-country differences in the ability to innovate and to imitate foreign technologies determine the existence of clustering, polarization and convergence clubs. The study investigates the characteristics of different technology clubs and the growth trajectories that they have followed over time. The cross-country empirical analysis first explores the existence of multiple regimes in the data by means of cluster analysis techniques. It then estimates a technology-gap growth equation in a dynamic panel model specification. The empirical results identify three distinct technology clubs, and show that these are characterized by remarkably different technological characteristics and growth behavior.
Topic:
Development, Economics, International Trade and Finance, and Science and Technology