Endogenous growth in production networks

Journal article: We investigate the interplay between technological change and macro- economic dynamics in an agent-based model of the formation of production networks. On the one hand, production networks form the structure that determines economic dynamics in the short run. On the other hand, their evolution reflects the long-term impacts of competition and innovation on the economy. We account for process innovation via increasing variety in the input mix and hence increasing connectivity in the network. In turn, product innovation induces a direct growth of the firm’s productivity and the potential destruction of links. The interplay between both processes generates complex technological dynamics in which phases of process and product innovation successively dominate. The model reproduces a wealth of stylized facts about industrial dynamics and technological progress, in particular the persistence of heterogeneity among firms and Wright’s law for the growth of productivity within a technological paradigm. We illustrate the potential of the model for the analysis of industrial policy via a preliminary set of policy experiments in which we investigate the impact on innovators’ success of feed-in tariffs and of priority market access.

Author(s)

Stanislao Gualdi, Antoine Mandel

Journal
  • Journal of Evolutionary Economics
Date of publication
  • 2019
Keywords JEL
C63 D57 D85 L16 L52 O31 O33
Keywords
  • Agent-based modeling production networks
  • Endogenous technological change
Pages
  • 91–117
Version
  • 1
Volume
  • 29