International Conference on Innovation and Development: The Intellectual Legacy of Joseph Schumpeter

3-5 June 2012
Harvard Kennedy School
Cambridge, MA

Co-organized by the
Science, Technology, and Globalization Project, Harvard Kennedy School
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project, Harvard Kennedy School
Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School
Contact: katherine_gordon@hks.harvard.edu

Background

The aim of the «International Conference on Innovation and Development» (3-5 June, 2012) is to take stock of the relevance of the work of Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter for developing countries. The conference coincides with the centenary of the publication of Schumpeter’s seminal work, The Theory of Economic Development (1911). The conference will be held in conjunction with the annual Innovation for Economic Development executive program.
Although Schumpeter’s work was clearly framed to address the unfolding nature of economic systems, policymakers and development thinkers in developing countries are only starting to be exposed to his seminal thinking. Many of these countries now embrace the idea of innovation in economic development without recognizing that they are furthering the legacy of Schumpeter.
For example, a 2005 report entitled Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development played an important role in guiding discussions on the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. But few leaders in developing countries associated the ideas in the report with work on Schumpeter. The ideas in the report have been widely adopted among developing countries and prepared the ground for a commemorative study on Schumpeter’s legacy.

Schumpeter’s intellectual legacy

Schumpeter left a rich intellectual legacy of relevance to emerging economies and globalization in general. He is associated with at least four major ideas (in writings between 1911 and 1942). First, he highlighted the critical role that innovation (broadly defined plays in economic transformation), especially through the dynamic process of “creative destruction”. Secondly, argued that technological innovation as an integral part of the capitalist enterprise and not changes in resource endowment was possibly the most powerful driver of economic transformation. Thirdly, he postulated that expectation of monopoly power was a greater source of productivity than the mere act of being in a competitive market. Finally, he stressed the importance of history and outlined the institutional forces that influence the pace and direction of economic transformation. In a posthumous paper published in 2005 entitled, Development, Schumpeter provided the clearest articulation of the theory behind his evolutionary thinking. He stressed the role of indeterminacy, novelty and discontinuous leaps.

Objectives

The aim of this conference is to convene a commemorative series of activities on the intellectual legacy of Schumpeter with specific reference to developing countries. Specific objectives of the initiative are to:
(a) outline the essential features of Schumpeter’s ideas of relevance to development policy and practice;
(b) elaborate the elements into a new study that lays out the policy implications of Schumpeter’s legacy for development policy and practice;
(c) disseminate the results among development policymakers, scholars, and practitioners; and
(d) identify new research directions on innovation and development.

Indicative topics

Prospective contributors may submit abstracts on indicative topics provided below. The topics are only indicative and not intended to restrict the scope of submissions. Preference will be given to evidence-based papers that provide case studies of the role of innovation in development:

History and Theory

Innovation in development history
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and development

Innovation in Action

Product innovation
Process innovation
Market development
Natural resource utilization
Institutional innovation

Governing Implication

Innovation policy
New research and policy directions

Timeline
31 December 2011: Deadline for submission of abstracts
*Submit all abstracts to STG Coordinator*
31 January 2012: Selection of abstracts
29 February 2012: Submission of draft papers
30 March 2012: Review comments to authors
3-5 June 2012: International Conference
1 August 2012: Submission of revised papers
31 December 2012: Publication of selected papers

Publication

A selected number of papers will be considered for publication in the International Journal of Technology and Globalisation. This opportunity will be open to all interested contributors irrespective of whether they are able to participate at the conference.