James Bessen’s article “How big technology systems are slowing innovation: The great IT revolution is no longer promoting economic dynamism. It’s preventing it” in the MIT Technology Review February 17, 2022
James Bessen, Erich Denk, Joowon Kim, Cesare Righi
This paper reports the first recent estimates of trends in the displacement of industry-leading firms. Displacement hazards rose for several decades since 1970 but have declined sharply since 2000. Using a production function-based model to explore the role of investments, acquisitions, and lobbying, we find that investments by dominant firms in intangibles, especially software, are distinctly associated with greater persistence and reduced leapfrogging.
James Bessen and Erich Denk
New research finding that firm size, productivity dispersion, and large firm investments in intangibles can account for much of the decline in the response to productivity since 2000, and that industry concentration is directly related to aggregate productivity growth.
James Bessen writing for The Innovation Frontier Project at the Progressive Policy Institute on policy implications of large-scale IT investment leading to declining competition and increasing inequality.
Kristina McElheran et al.
A new survey module intended to complement and expand research on the causes and consequences of advanced technology adoption by analyzing the 2018 Annual Business Survey.
James Bessen, Erich Denk, Joowon Kim, and Cesare Righi
New research shows the effects of investments in IT on reducing turnover among dominant firms.
Timothy Simcoe quoted in BU Today, on keeping tech firms from getting too big.
Robert Seamans interviewed by the American Enterprise Institute on AI and the economy.
James Bessen and Robert Seamans cited in the 2019 Economic Report of the President on the effects of Big Data and AI on competition.
James Bessen and Alessandro Nuvolari
A paper analyzing the diffusion of three technologies in the 19th century with policy implications for today.