PD Dr. Holger Graf; Prof. Dr. Uwe Cantner

Final exam (ca. 60 %), presentation and/or take-homes (ca. 40 %). The decision on the chosen form of examination is made at the beginning of the course in consultation with the students, considering the organizational framework conditions. The exact weighting of the individual assessments will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Both parts need to be passed individually and the final grade is the weighted sum of individual grades. If students need to repeat the exam, a passed part need not to be retaken.

English

Contents of MW20.3

149 M.A. Soziologie, 684 M.Sc. Economics, 050 M.Sc. Geographie: Wahlpflichtmodul

Lecture (2h per week), Exercise and guided reading (2h per week)

This course deals with the normative aspects of technological and innovative change. We derive implications for innovation policy from theoretical arguments or models dealing with technological change. We discuss topics such as the characterization of knowledge, the process of innovation generation, market failures, innovation systems, R&D subsidies, R&D collaborations, patenting and standardization, the diffusion of innovations, or the interplay between innovation and the environment. A particular focus is on the evaluation of innovation policy instruments.

Students have knowledge of abstract models of the innovation process and of the basic factors influencing the decision to innovate. They know how different economic theories justify policy interventions and are able to critically assess the assumptions underlying the theories. Students will have a broad understanding of different policy instruments. They know about the relevance of policy evaluation and can distinguish between different evaluation methods. Students are able to present and critically assess original research on innovation policy and its evaluation.