Diffusion, substitution and competition dynamism inside the ICT market: The case of Japan

Under the new information society paradigm that emerged in the 1990s, contrary to its conspicuous achievement as an industrial society, Japan is experiencing a vicious cycle between non-elastic institutions and insufficient utilization of the potential benefits of information and communication technology (ICT).However, a dramatic deployment of mobile telephones with Internet access service such as NTT DoCoMo's i-mode service in the late 1990s provides encouragement that, once the potential is exploited, Japan's institutional systems can effectively stimulate the self-propagating nature of ICT. The rapid deployment of Internet Protocol (IP) mobile service in Japan can be attributed to worldwide advances in the utilization of personal computers (PCs) and the Internet. Thus, a complex technology web triggered by the dramatic advancement of PCs and the Internet and co-evolving diffusion, substitution and competition dynamism has emerged in the global ICT market, particularly in Japan's mobile communication business.The above observations prompt the hypothetical view that, despite a lack of institutional elasticity, recent advances in Japan's IP mobile service deployment can be attributed to a co-evolutionary dynamism between diffusion, substitution and competition inside the ICT market. Thus, policy questions could be how to create such a co-evolutionary dynamism by means of ICT innovation, enriched functions, reduced price and competitive environment.In order to demonstrate the foregoing hypothesis, an empirical analysis of the mechanism co-evolving diffusion, substitution and competition dynamism inside Japan's ICT market is attempted by utilizing four types of diffusion models identical to respective diffusion dynamics.     

产业结构失衡与调整的市场机制研究——山西产业结构调整的再思考

在我国特别是在资源型地区,由于市场机制调节产业结构的机制存在要素自由流动不畅、利益机制传导受阻、核心技术缺乏等问题,使市场机制作用的发挥受到较大影响,导致这些地区往往存在严重的产业结构失衡与产业升级较慢等问题。当前,资源性经济景气下降,诸如山西这样资源型地区的"寒号鸟"们再次感受到了冬天的寒冷,又到了市场倒逼机制开始发挥作用的时期。在这个时期,需抓住我国深入市场化改革的机遇,破除阻碍市场调节产业结构调整机制的多重障碍,通过发展混合所有制经济、激活国企利益机制功能和创新科研机制确立核心技术研发主体等措施,完善市场调节机制,推进地区产业结构调整,走出"调整-反弹-再调整"的结构调整怪圈。     

ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING: MARKET DATA, MARKET IMPERFECTIONS, AND POLICY SUCCESS

Many economists question engineering-economic studies aimed at demonstrating anomalously slow diffusion of energy-efficient technology and the benefits of regulations to promote such technology. One argument against such studies is that standard techniques of engineering economics are either inappropriate or are routinely misapplied in assessing the performance of the market for energy efficiency. This paper takes account of such critiques in presenting engineering-economic evidence on the diffusion of energy efficiency improvements. It examines the engineering and economic characteristics of standard and energy-efficient magnetic ballasts for fluorescent lighting. Efficient magnetic ballasts represent an excellent investment for 99 percent of the commercial building floor stock and a moderately good investment for 0.7 percent of the commercial floor stock. Still, in the 1980s these ballasts were being adopted only at a rate commensurate with the enactment of appliance efficiency standards in various states. In this case, solid empirical evidence supports skepticism about the effectiveness of the market mechanism in promoting cost-effective energy efficiency improvements and about the benefits of regulation to counteract this shortcoming.     

空间视角下绿色技术创新动力解构：政策推进与市场拉动

绿色技术创新被认为是解决生态环境问题、实现经济社会可持续发展的有效途径。为促进区域绿色技术创新水平提升和协调发展，选取1997—2019年中国内地30个省份面板数据，采用动态空间面板模型实证检验环境政策、市场因素及其空间溢出效应对区域绿色技术创新的影响。研究发现：①环境政策与本地区绿色技术创新存在U型作用关系，并通过示范—模仿机制对周边地区产生正向溢出效应；②市场因素对本地区绿色技术创新具有显著促进作用，并呈现“涟漪效应”；③环境政策和市场因素对绿色技术创新的影响存在时空异质性特征，创新投入发挥部分中介作用。据此，提出制定合理的环境政策、激发绿色技术市场活力、实行差异化绿色创新驱动政策等建议。     

Beyond national and technological styles of innovation diffusion: a dynamic perspective on cases from the energy and transport sectors

This article argues that styles of innovation diffusion dynamics depend on both national and niche-specific factors and that their respective influence changes during the innovation diffusion process. Based on a review of approaches, dealing on the one hand with differences in national innovation and technology systems and on the other with process of niche formation and development, a theoretical synthesis and pattern of analysis is suggested for interpreting and comparing empirical findings from two different technology examples. The analysis of combined heat and power (CHP) in Germany, UK and the Netherlands, and of electric vehicles in Germany, Sweden and France allows us to identify different styles of innovation diffusion dynamics. These styles are determined by the relative importance of national and niche-specific factors in different phases of the process of technological change. Support in lent to the hypothesis that a style which combines impulses for innovation at both structural and niche is particularly conducive to radical change.     

Beyond national and technological styles of innovation diffusion: a dynamic perspective on cases from the energy and transport sectors

This article argues that styles of innovation diffusion dynamics depend on both national and niche-specific factors and that their respective influence changes during the innovation diffusion process. Based on a review of approaches, dealing on the one hand with differences in national innovation and technology systems and on the other with process of niche formation and development, a theoretical synthesis and pattern of analysis is suggested for interpreting and comparing empirical findings from two different technology examples. The analysis of combined heat and power (CHP) in Germany, UK and the Netherlands, and of electric vehicles in Germany, Sweden and France allows us to identify different styles of innovation diffusion dynamics. These styles are determined by the relative importance of national and niche-specific factors in different phases of the process of technological change. Support in lent to the hypothesis that a style which combines impulses for innovation at both structural and niche is particularly conducive to radical change.     

Will nonowners follow pioneer consumers in the adoption of solar thermal systems? Empirical evidence for northwestern Germany

In Germany, solar thermal systems (STSy) have only diffused to a minor extent as yet. This paper analyzes which demand side factors are decisive for the further proliferation of this environmentally benign technology. Making use of a consumer survey in northwestern Germany in 2007, we examine the following parameters: positive environmental attitude, knowledge of the applicability of STSy to satisfy consumer needs, and the presence of STSy among peer consumers. Drawing upon theoretical foundations from innovation economics and social psychology, we posit that these variables play a different role at distinct stages of the systems' diffusion process. Among nonowners, concrete plans to purchase such a system within the next two years are distinguished from the general interest to invest in this technology within the next five years. Probit models are estimated to test our hypotheses. Our results do not indicate a strong take-off of product diffusion within the next few years. By generating interest for the product, environmental attitude and knowledge as well as household income are important determinants of prospective adoption on the part of nonowners. However, it is only peer group behavior that appears to function as a trigger for the diffusion of this technology.     

城市科技创新人才政策扩散动力因素时空差异研究

科技创新人才是城市提升创新能力的核心资源,是科技进步的关键要素。科技创新人才政策作为城市争夺人才的工具,被各个城市广泛采纳和使用。以161个城市为研究对象,运用事件史分析方法,探寻城市科技创新人才政策扩散的动力因素并进行时空差异分析。研究发现,城市科技创新人才政策扩散具有双重动力因素：在需求拉动因素中,经济发展水平和财政收入是影响城市科技创新人才政策扩散的主要因素;在压力推动因素中,行政指令、府际竞争和社会舆论显著影响城市科技创新人才政策扩散;在政策扩散平稳增长期,双重动力因素共同作用于政策扩散过程,而在政策扩散加速和减速增长期,城市科技创新人才政策扩散动力因素存在差异;在东、中部地区,压力推动因素占据主导,而在西部地区,双重动力因素都发挥重要作用。     

Technological change in niches: Auxiliary Power Units and the hydrogen economy

In studies of large scale systems innovations or technological transitions, niches have been given a prominent role as incubators for the seeds of future technological systems. It is often argued that immature technologies rely on niches for their development, before they are able to compete in mainstream markets. This paper combines insights from economic theory and from technology studies to formulate a framework for understanding the dynamics of technological change in niches, and applies this framework to the case of fuel cell Auxiliary Power Units (APUs). We conclude that the choice of technology for APUs will be of critical importance in determining the role this market could have in shaping future developments in hydrogen and fuel cells. However, a number of factors are not strictly dependent on the technology used in fuel cell APUs. These comprise factors influencing external economies of scale, network effects, the behaviour of users and expectations.     

Analysis on the growth of telecommunication services: a global comparison of diffusion patterns

With the development of the Internet, the telecommunication market has seen a rapid shift from voice-based services to data-based services. Relationships of substitutability and complementarity have emerged among communications technology services such as Internet service, mobile phone service and fixed telephone service. The article analyses the diffusion patterns of communication services in different continents. A modified logistic growth model is estimated using panel data for the years 1975–2004. The research forms a valuable framework for forecasting demand for new services based on the diffusion of incumbent services and can inform strategies for entering the communications network industry.     

Separating early-adopters from the majority: The case of Broadband Internet access in Korea

This paper examines key static determinants and dynamic diffusion processes to develop a diffusion model of network products from the case of rapid growth of Broadband Internet in Korea. In the competitive environment of shortening product life cycle, there have been few studies on the key factors affecting the rapid and dynamic diffusion of network products. This paper identifies that market and technological factors have had a great impact on the explosive diffusion speed, while government and socio-cultural factors moderately contributed to the rapid diffusion. This paper also explores the dynamic diffusion processes: diffusion for the early-adopter and diffusion for the majority. Finally, theoretical propositions are developed on the diffusion of innovation for network products and practical implications for expediting the diffusion of emerging technologies are discussed.     

Industrial leadership in science-based industries: A co-evolution model

In this paper, we seek to analyse the role of national university systems in combination with technological and market factors as sources of industrial leadership and industry growth in science-based industries. We propose a model in which national university systems and their respective national firms and industries are considered as co-evolving. National firms compete on a worldwide level and they rely on the progress of science and the availability of scientists to innovate. As the global industry develops, firms try to mold their national university systems, but they achieve different degrees of success. Apart from highlighting the role of institutional responsiveness as a source of competitive advantage, our model points to the access to essential inputs for production, the technological and strategic characteristics of firms, the international diffusion of knowledge, and the initial distribution of market demand as key sources of leadership and industry growth. The international mobility of scientists seems to foster the emergence of industrial leadership shifts.     

Multigeneration diffusion model for economic assessment of new technology

In the era of 21st century, development of emerging information technology is the essence of the advancement. This kind of new technology, however, often requires a great deal of amount of initial investment for both procedures of R&D and commercialization. As cost invested in developing the specified technology is increasing, investors are paying more attention to cost to benefit analysis (CBA). One of the basic elements of CBA for new technological development is the diffusion pattern of demand of such technology. Typically, it would be hard to presume the diffusion pattern of demand when the new product or the technology is under development. In this case, a simulation study is necessary. Many studies of technology evaluation have adopted a single generation model to simulate the diffusion pattern of demand. This approach, however, considers the diffusion of the new technology itself, not taking into account newer generation, which can replace the one just invented. In the real market situation, one must consider the competition and substitution phenomena between old and new technologies. In this paper, we show how multigeneration technology diffusion model can be applied for more accurate CBA for information technology. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulation is performed to find influential factors on the CBA of a cybernetic building system (CBS).     

中国战略性新兴产业培育与发展支撑体系建设研究

战略性新兴产业的形成和发展有其内在的产业和技术成长规律,需要具备一定的产业和技术基础及较为完善的支撑体系。中国发展战略性新兴产业面临着体制性障碍、产业基础区域差距悬殊、核心技术缺乏、基础研究薄弱等问题,可借鉴欧美发达国家战略性新兴产业培育和发展的经验启示,积极整合生产要素、技术要素、市场需求、产业政策等各大要素的作用,构建完善的产业支撑体系、政策支撑体系和服务支撑体系,以促进中国战略性新兴产业的稳健发展。     

Diffusion of organisational innovations: an empirical test of an analytical framework

Alänge, Jacobsson, and Jarnehammar (1998) presented an analytical framework for studying the diffusion of organisational innovations, based on the developments in literature on technical innovations and their diffusion. The aim of this paper is to examine the validity of the framework. Two exploratory case studies were carried out on the diffusion of the organisational innovation TQM. The case studies showed that the framework is a useful tool for studying the diffusion of organisational innovations. However, factors such as learning processes on a national and international level and the role of fads need further consideration. In addition, factors needed for a long-term commitment such as boards and owners and internal political and cultural systems need to be further investigated. The paper also presents a model for analysing the different phases in a diffusion process.     

基于垂直产品差异的技术扩散分析

针对网络外部性和产品差异程度在新产品技术扩散中的作用,采用垂直产品差异分析框架和动态分析方法,分析了在双寡头垄断环境中新技术在不同条件下的扩散路径。研究结果表明:当产品差异-外部性系数(即网络外部性强度和产品差异程度之比)较小时,新技术总能够在市场中成功生存,特别是当消费者偏好差异不是很大时,新技术最终能够垄断整个市场;当该系数较大时,只有当新技术期初的网络规模超越了一定阀值后,它才能在市场中成功扩散。厂商可根据产品差异-外部性系数、期初网络规模铺设成本及新技术在市场中生存的期限等因素选择最佳的新技术扩散路径。     

中国企业信誉缺失的理论分析

针对当前中国缺乏高信誉度品牌这一现象,本文构造了一个重复博弈理论模型,试图找出其背后更深层的经济和制度原因。现有文献主要研究均衡所能实现的最高效率支付(最好均衡)。我们认为,分析中国信誉缺失问题,合理的视角应该是考查最差均衡,并据此来分析摆脱低信誉陷阱的因素。在本文的模型里,在均衡中企业信誉有一个动态演变的过程。在一定的条件下,即使在最差均衡中,经过足够长的时间后,均衡会实现从低效率状态到高效率状态的转变,而社会总体效率取决于这种转变的快慢。我们刻画了这种转变所需要的时间,以及影响转变速度的经济制度因素。我们发现,中国社会普遍的低信任度、市场机制的不完善(尤其是市场中介机构和监督机构的不足)、市场竞争的不充分和技术水平的落后,是阻碍和延长中国经济从低效率到高效率状态转变的重要因素。     

韩国促进科技与金融结合的政策措施

韩国建立的致力于科技创新的金融支援体系,为创新经济、培育战略性新兴产业、应对金融危机等发挥了重要作用。长期以来,韩国陆续建立了各种金融资金支援制度,如,金融支援制度、租税支援制度、新技术产品市场支援制度等,大力发展创业风险投资和科技资本市场,使得科技与金融呈现出一种互利互动的关系,成为提高科技创新能力的基础和保障,韩国的高新技术产业乃至整体社会经济由此实现了持续快速增长。     

Technological innovation and market turbulence: The dot-com experience

This paper explains market turbulence, such as the recent dot-com boom/bust cycle, as equilibrium industry dynamics driven by the synergy between new and existing technologies. When a major technological innovation arrives, a wave of new firms implement the innovation and enter the market. However, if the innovation complements existing technology, some new entrants later will be forced out as more and more incumbent firms succeed in adopting the innovation. It is argued that the diffusion of Internet technology among traditional brick-and-mortar firms was indeed the driving force behind the rise and fall of dot-coms as well as the sustained growth of e-commerce. Systematic empirical evidence from retail and banking industries supports the theoretical findings.     

河北省商品市场监管制度研究

改革开放以来,河北省商品市场建设从整体上呈现出理性化、规范化、网络化、商场化、市场组织形式实体化和市场买方化等新趋势,但也存在着市场监管技术手段落后、监管效能低及市场中间服务组织发展缓慢等问题。应进一步明确市场主办者的法律地位和法律责任,明确市场主办者与进场经营者的法律关系;通过建立企业(个体户)分类监管制度,加强市场主办者和进场经营者的信用监管;积极实施商品市场准入制度,加强上市商品质量监管;借助现代信息技术,不断完善市场监管方式;运用综合职能监管市场,形成政府监管、行业自律、公众监督和司法保证相结合的市场监管制度体系。