The Politics of Technological Progress: Parties, Time Horizons and Long-term Economic Development
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 12/15/2016
EAN 9781107145771, ISBN10: 1107145775
Hardcover, 240 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English
Why are some countries richer than others and why do some economies grow more rapidly? The Politics of Technological Progress answers these vital questions by highlighting the importance of technological progress for sustained economic development. The author also explains why some countries exhibit faster technological progress than others. Armed with a wealth of cross-national empirical evidence, Professor Simmons stresses the importance of properly constructed political parties for establishing an environment conducive to technological progress. 'Well-institutionalized' ruling parties are essential for technological progress, he argues, because only in such parties are time horizons long enough for governments to accept the deferred returns that are an inherent feature of government efforts to encourage innovation and technology adoption in the economy.
Contents
List of figures
List of tables
Acknowledgements
Part I. Introduction
1. The importance of technological progress
2. Cross-national variation in technology policies
3. The paradox of technology policies
4. The argument
5. Plan of the book
Part II. Political Parties and Technological Progress
Theory
6. Why time horizons matter
7. Political parties, time horizons, and technology policy
8. Discussion
Part III. Political Parties and Technological Progress
Empirics
9. Measuring party institutionalization
10. Reduced-form models and results
11. From party institutionalization to income levels
12. Testing the mechanisms
13. Conclusion
Part IV. Weak Institutionalization and Myopic Policymaking
14. Context-conditional political business cycles
15. Party institutionalization and policy cycles
16. Pre-election expansions
17. Post-election contractions
18. Conclusion
Part V. State Failures, Market Failures, and Technological Progress
19. Political failures and market failures
20. A proposed synthesis
21. Case illustrations
22. Cross-national analyses
23. Conclusion
Part VI. Conclusion
24. Parties and economic performance
25. Extending the model
A. Appendix to chapter 1
B. Appendix to chapter 2
C. Appendix to chapter 3
References.