The early diffusion of the steam engine in Britain, 1700–1800: a reappraisal

We examine the diffusion of steam technology across British counties during the eighteenth century. First, we provide new estimates for the regional variations in the timing, pace and extent of usage of steam engines. Our main data source is an updated version of the list of steam engines erected in Britain during the eighteenth century originally compiled by Kanefsky and Robey (Technol Cult 21:161–186, 1980). Following a rather established approach for analysing the diffusion of new technologies we fit S-shaped growth functions to the data on the numbers of steam engines installed in each county. In this way, we are able to provide a comprehensive appraisal of the relative speed of the diffusion process in different counties. Second, in order to assess the relative importance of the variables shaping the diffusion of steam power technology, we study the relationship between the number of steam engines installed in each county and localization factors such as coal prices, availability of water sites, number of textile mills and number of blast furnaces.Steam engine, Diffusion, Great Britain, Industrial revolution

Interplay of patents and trademarks as tools in economic competition

Integrated manufacturing-service systems have been receiving attention recently. The phenomenon of services-to-artifacts companies, namely those specializing in intermediate goods and complex equipment, is increasingly instrumental for long-run competitiveness in fast-changing, high-quality global markets. The debate has so far has remained largely qualitative, and the effective role and relevance of services is rather fuzzy. Against this background, this chapter brings in empirical evidence concerning the evolving business models of a variety of leading innovative manufacturing companies. For this purpose, over 50 manufacturing companies listed in the European Union (EU) research & development (R&D) investment scoreboard are analyzed in terms of patents and trademarks. In particular, trademark strategies are studied in greater depth, and they are sub-divided into goods and services marks and into high and low sophistication. Service marks are used as a supplement to patents, as the service component of industrial offerings is not covered by classic indicators of technical change. The economic data from the EU (EU Scoreboard R&D, sales, growth, employees, profits, or investment) are linked to the patent and trademark data in order to see which balance of goods and service capabilities leads to favorable economic results

The outsourcing productivity paradox: total outsourcing, organisational innovation, and long run productivity growth

Outsourcing, Organisational innovation, Long run productivity development, D23, D24, D83, O33,