Examples of General Purpose Innovation

Economic Impact of General-Purpose Technologies

Economists are often interested in foundational innovations that drive long-term growth. Which of the following hypothetical inventions best fits the description of a technology that has a pervasive impact across many different economic sectors, continuously improves over time, and enables the creation of a wide range of new products and business models?

Analyzing a Technological Innovation

Match each technological innovation with the description of its economic impact to distinguish between those with broad, transformative effects and those with more limited applications.

Evaluating a New Technology's Economic Potential

Classifying Technological Innovations

Freelancer's Project Choice

A new technology that doubles the efficiency of a single, highly specialized manufacturing process, but has no applications outside of that specific process, is considered a general-purpose technology because of its profound economic impact within that sector.

A foundational innovation with widespread applicability has just been introduced into an economy. Arrange the following economic phases in the typical order they would occur following the introduction of such a transformative technology.

A company invents a new battery that is twice as efficient as any other and its performance is expected to double again every two years. However, its design is proprietary and can only be used in the company's own exclusive line of electric cars. Based on this description, which essential characteristic of a foundational, economy-wide transformative technology is this invention lacking?

An economist observes a new technology that is rapidly being adopted across diverse industries, from agriculture to finance. If this technology is indeed a foundational innovation with widespread applicability, what is the most likely long-term economic outcome?

Three Characteristics of General-Purpose Technologies