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The early development of the steam engine: an evolutionary interpretation using complexity theory

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Author Info
Koen Frenken
Alessandro Nuvolari

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Abstract

In this paper we analyse the early development of the steam engine as a search process in a multidimensional design space. This perspective allows us to make use of recent insights coming from complex systems theory, in particular, of a generalized version of Kauffman's NK-model. We analyse yearly distributions of steam engine designs and their sectors of application for the period 1760--1800. We interpret the patterns of variety and differentiation characterizing the behaviour of these distributions as emerging properties of underlying search processes unfolding in the design space. We conclude that the early development of steam power technology can be understood as a process of 'technological speciation' of various engine designs in distinct users' niches. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Oxford University Press in its journal Industrial and Corporate Change.

Volume (Year): 13 (2004)
Issue (Month): 2 (April)
Pages: 419-450
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Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:13:y:2004:i:2:p:419-450

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Marengo, Luigi, et al, 2000. "The Structure of Problem-Solving Knowledge and the Structure of Organizations," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 9(4), pages 757-88, December.
    Other versions:
  2. Giovanni Dosi & Daniel A. Levinthal & Luigi Marengo, 2003. "Bridging contested terrain: linking incentive-based and learning perspectives on organizational evolution," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(2), pages 413-436, April.
    Other versions:
  3. Herbert A. Simon, 2002. "Near decomposability and the speed of evolution," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 587-599, June.
  4. Halsey, Harlan I., 1981. "The Choice Between High-Pressure and Low-Pressure Steam Power in America in the Early Nineteenth Century," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 41(04), pages 723-744, December. [Downloadable!]
  5. Lee Altenberg, 1994. "Evolving Better Representations Through Selective Genome Growth," Working Papers 94-02-008, Santa Fe Institute.
  6. Frenken, Koen & Saviotti, Paolo P. & Trommetter, Michel, 1999. "Variety and niche creation in aircraft, helicopters, motorcycles and microcomputers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 469-488, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Auerswald, Philip & Kauffman, Stuart & Lobo, Jose & Shell, Karl, 2000. "The production recipes approach to modeling technological innovation: An application to learning by doing," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 389-450, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  8. Frenken, K. & Nuvolari, A., 2002. "Entropy Statistics as a Framework to Analyse Technological Evolution," ECIS Working Papers 02.15, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, Eindhoven University of Technology. [Downloadable!]
  9. Saviotti, P. P. & Metcalfe, J. S., 1984. "A theoretical approach to the construction of technological output indicators," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 141-151, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  10. Koen Frenken & Luigi Marengo & Marco Valente, 1999. "Interdependencies, nearly-decomposability and adaption," CEEL Working Papers 9903, Computable and Experimental Economics Laboratory, Department of Economics, University of Trento, Italia. [Downloadable!]
  11. Kauffman, Stuart & Lobo, Jose & Macready, William G., 2000. "Optimal search on a technology landscape," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 141-166, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Castaldi, C. & Fontana, R. & Nuvolari, A., 2006. "‘Chariots of Fire’: The Evolution of Tank Technology, 1915-1945 ," ECIS Working Papers 06.02, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, Eindhoven University of Technology. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Koen Frenken, 2006. "Technological innovation and complexity theory," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 137-155, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Verspagen, B., 2005. "Mapping Technological Trajectories as Patent Citation Networks. A Study on the History of Fuel Cell Research," ECIS Working Papers 05.11, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, Eindhoven University of Technology. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  4. Malte Schwoon & Floortje Alkemade & Koen Frenken & Marko P. Hekkert, 2006. "Flexible transition strategies towards future well-to-wheel chains: an evolutionary modelling approach," Working Papers FNU-114, Research unit Sustainability and Global Change, Hamburg University, revised Aug 2006. [Downloadable!]
  5. Olav Sorenson & Jan W. Rivkin & Lee Fleming, 2005. "Informational Complexity and the Flow of Knowledge across social boundaries," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 0511, Utrecht University, Section of Economic Geography, revised Sep 2005. [Downloadable!]
  6. Ron Boschma & Koen Frenken, 2004. "Why is Economic Geography not an Evolutionary Science?," ERSA conference papers ersa04p393, European Regional Science Association. [Downloadable!]
  7. Garavaglia, C., 2004. "History friendly simulations for modelling industrial dynamics," ECIS Working Papers 04.19, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, Eindhoven University of Technology. [Downloadable!]
  8. Frenken, K. & Nuvolari, A., 2002. "Entropy Statistics as a Framework to Analyse Technological Evolution," ECIS Working Papers 02.15, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, Eindhoven University of Technology. [Downloadable!]
  9. Nuvolari, A. & Verspagen, B. & Von Tunzelmann, N., 2003. "The Diffusion of the Steam Engine in Eighteenth-Century Britain," ECIS Working Papers 03.26, Eindhoven Centre for Innovation Studies, Eindhoven University of Technology. [Downloadable!]
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