Abstract
Despite its importance as a formative influence in evolutionary biology, the notion of isolation has received relatively little attention in evolutionary economics and its application to technological innovation. This paper makes the case that isolation, in many guises, is a pervasive and permanent feature of the economic landscape and that its implications for technological innovation deserve further analysis. Isolation and potential implications for innovation are discussed in the early part of the paper and case studies of two military innovations are then used to illustrate the value of explicitly recognising various forms of isolation in explaining observed aspects of innovation process and outcomes.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge Stan Metcalfe for his stimulating insights and support over many years; comments on earlier versions of the paper from seminar participants at INGENIO, Polytechnic University of Valencia, especially Jordi Molas Gallart, and at the 14th International Schumpeter Society Conference, Brisbane, especially Ulrich Witt; and the most helpful critiques of two anonymous referees. The authors take full responsibility for all views expressed and analysis undertaken in the paper.
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Hall, P., Wylie, R. Isolation and technological innovation. J Evol Econ 24, 357–376 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-014-0347-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-014-0347-7