ABSTRACT

Our primary sources of understanding concerning the processes of economic change are the dominant neoclassical economic growth and location theories. These, however, appear to be inadequate for their explanatory roles. Persuasive arguments in support of this point of view have been made by a number of notable scholars such as Scott (1983a, b), Nelson and Winter (1977, 1982), Freeman (1982) and Pavitt (1979). It seems that we need to develop a new way of looking at the roles factors such as innovation and technical change play in the processes which bring about scalar, qualitative, structural and spatial changes in industries and firms. These scholars, and many others, are already contributing to the development of a useful set of new perspectives on the explanatory mechanisms for these patterns of change.