Suchergebnisse

In this essay I compare two different theoretical frameworks in economics for orienting analysis of issues in technology policy. One is a neoclassical framework that sees appropriate policies as dealing with 'market failures'. The other framework is provided by an evolutionary and institutional approach to economic analysis that sees appropriate policies as building or maintaining an effective 'innovation system'. It should be no surprise that I believe the latter framework is the more useful one. I begin by laying out the key general differences between the two broad theoretical frameworks, and how they lead to different perspectives on technology policy. Then I turn to a particular case: technology policy regarding pharmaceuticals. Finally, I comment on the general question of the role of economic theories in framing policy analysis.

Résumé

The current historiographical debate over the relation of John Locke's philosophy to the republican political tradition has ignored the medical orientation which Locke brought to his political writings. Recognizing that Locke wrote within a medical paradigm, which he derived from Calvinist religious thought, permits us to see that Locke was working within a variation of republicanism and not in opposition to it. Locke attempted to "cure" political corruption, much as Puritans had tried to cure their society of sin's corruption. The failure of Locke's therapeutic approach to political virtue has provided the basis for recent criticisms of liberalism and a challenge to the convention that Locke was an original and central figure in creating Anglo-American political culture.

THE CURRENT HISTORIOGRAPHICAL DEBATE OVER THE RELATION OF JOHN LOCKE'S PHILOSOPHY TO THE REPUBLICAN POLITICAL TRADITION HAS IGNORED THE MEDICAL ORIENTATION WHICH LOCKE BROUGHT TO HIS POLITICAL WRITINGS. RECOGNIZING THAT LOCKE WROTE WITHIN A MEDICAL PARADIGM, WHICH HE DERIVED FROM CALVINIST RELIGIOUS THOUGHT, PERMITS US TO SEE THAT LOCKE WAS WORKING WITHIN A VARIATION OF REPUBLICANISM AND NOT IN OPPOSITION TO IT. LOCKE ATTEMPTED TO "CURE" POLITICAL CORRUPTION, MUCH AS PURITANS HAD TRIED TO CURE THEIR SOCIETY OF SIN'S CORRUPTION. THE FAILURE OF LOCKE'S THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO POLITICAL VIRTUE HAS PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR RECENT CRITICISMS OF LIBERALISM AND A CHALLENGE TO THE CONVENTION THAT LOCKE WAS AN ORIGINAL AND CENTRAL FIGURE IN CREATING ANGLO-AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE.

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Introduction -- PART I -- CHAPTER 1. The Agenda for Growth Theory: A Different Point of View -- CHAPTER 2. The Asian Miracle and Modern Growth Theory -- PART II -- CHAPTER 3. Recent Evolutionary Theorizing about Economic Change -- CHAPTER 4. On the Nature and Evolution of Human Know-how -- CHAPTER 5. Making Sense of Institutions as a Factor Shaping Economic Performance -- PART III -- CHAPTER 6. On the Uneven Evolution of Human Know-how -- CHAPTER 7. Physical and Social Technologies and Their Evolution -- PART IV -- CHAPTER 8. The Problem of Market Bias in Modern Capitalist Economies -- CHAPTER 9. The Market Economy and the Scientific Commons -- References -- Index