Determinants of technological progress in central and peripheral countries from the perspective of Evolutionary Economics

Abstract

The seminal work of Nelson and Winter (1982) laid the foundation for the development of the new evolutionary theory approach that adds innovation to economic dynamics. This study reviewed the evolutionary literature on the dynamics of technological progress, analyzing the differences between central and peripheral countries and discussing the dynamics of innovation at the regional level. Specifically, the aim was to identify the issue of the development process and place it in the context of technological progress. This involved identifying the points of connection between neo-Schumpeterian or evolutionary approaches and ECLAC structuralism. In particular, the main advances in Evolutionary Economic Geography and the prospects for study were discussed. These included issues of smart specialization, regional resilience, and related and unrelated technologies in regional diversification.