Abstract
This article asks whether firms in developing economies (latecomer firms) facing adverse economic and policy conditions can generate and use technological capabilities to catch up despite the external difficulties confronting them. Drawing on ideas from catch up research and evolutionary theory, we conduct an in-depth case study of an unusually successful Argentinean firm (IMPSA) in the field of high technology renewable energy systems covering a 40 year period. We compare the performance of IMPSA with general business trends over different policy regimes. Although exploratory, the research raises important questions concerning the potential role of ‘contrarian’ technological capabilities in contending with domestic economic difficulties and policy disincentives.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Oxford Development Studies |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 7 Jul 2016 |
Bibliographical note
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Oxford Development Studies available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/Keywords
- Catch-up
- latecomer development
- latecomer firms
- contrarian technological capabilities
- Argentina
- renewable energy systems