Jocelyn Leitzinger
School of Business,
George Washington University
Industrial policy and technology adoption: A study of institutions, technological lock-in, and national goals

jmleitz@gwmail.gwu.edu

Jocelyn Leitzinger is a doctoral student in International Business/Strategy at the George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC. Originally from Florida, Jocelyn previously worked as a consultant in the areas of marketing and international economic development. While with the Central Florida Development Council, Jocelyn attended a workshop presented by the Rocky Mountain Institute which inspired her to return to school to conduct research on sustainability issues in international business. Jocelyn's current research stream examines the interactions between various levels of institutional structures and their impact on technological change in the wind energy industry. With a commitment to exploring the key sustainability issues confronting international business, Jocelyn hopes to make a contribution to the world through her research. Jocelyn's future plans involve further analysis of the mechanisms driving innovation and growth in renewable energies.

Industrial policy and technology adoption: A study of institutions, technological lock-in, and national goals

The adoption of new technologies by private firms lies at the center of economic growth (Rosenberg, 1976; Mansfield, 1986; Edquist, 1997). In fact, technological breakthroughs create little social or economic value without the adoption of these inventions by the marketplace (Hall, 2005). But having the potential to better society or increase productivity is often not enough incentive to induce firms to adopt new technologies. In such instances where the marketplace fails to perform at a socially optimal level, governments may choose to intervene in order to counteract market malfunctions. This paper aims to explain why some countries succeed and others fail when implementing similar policies designed to spur new technology adoption. Through an examination of the wind energy industry, this paper endeavors to create a single framework to explain cross-country differences in policy selection and new technology adoption rates. In the long run, this stream of research will allow developed nations to further refine their policy practices and provide a resource for developing nations aiming to transition their economies towards emergent technologies.