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The New 49ers Rush to Space

In: The Cosmos Economy

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  • Jack Gregg

Abstract

At the dawn of the electric age in the late 1880s, Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla were commercial rivals advocating opposing notions about the best method of distributing electricity to an eager customer base. Edison advocated the use of more costly but much safer direct current (DC) while Tesla was a proponent of cheaper but less safe alternating current (AC). The resulting legal battles lasted well into the twentieth century (AC prevailed). But the high cost of the rivalry and legal battles that resulted slowed the adoption of a standard vision for national electrification (Sandford 2012). Ultimately, the world got the benefits of electricity, but both entrepreneurs lost control of their inventions and depleted their cash reserves in endless legal squabbles. One wonders what would have transpired if the two rivals decided to collaborate and find a solution that would satisfy their sense of ego and the needs of the customers they served. The potential downside of competing visions can be self-destructive, or it can yield creativity and new opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jack Gregg, 2021. "The New 49ers Rush to Space," Springer Books, in: The Cosmos Economy, chapter 22, pages 187-191, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-030-62569-6_22
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-62569-6_22
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