Sources of Industrial Leadership: Studies of Seven Industries

Sources of Industrial Leadership is a valuable contribution to the study of technological innovation. Edited by David Mowery of the University of California, Berkeley and Richard Nelson of Columbia University, this volume traces the development in the United States, Japan and Western Europe of seven industries in which technological innovation was inherent to their development. The case studies — machine tools, organic chemical products, pharmaceutical biotechnology, medical devices, computers, semiconductors, and software — compare the evolution of each industry in the different countries, examining cross-national and cross-industry differences. While each study is useful on its own, the compilation provides a framework for scholars, managers, and policymakers to explore factors contributing to industrial leadership.