The Role of Technological Change in Economic Theory

<p>This thesis asks whether or not technological change needs to be explained by economic theory. The current academic literature is limited in providing theoretical account of the process of technological change. This thesis analyzes the economic theories of Adam Smith, Karl Marx, the neoclassical doctrine, and Joseph Schumpeter in their respective accounts of technological change. The theoretical frameworks of the different theories are critiqued in their ability to account for technological change. This leads to a discussion of whether purely subjective individual choices can lead to a theoretical account of technological change or if the decisions must be based within an objective order that shapes and motivates the decisions. A necessary part of this argument is whether or not history should be accounted for by economic theory. The analysis attempts to show what a theoretical account of the process of technological change must look like.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Glenn, Kyle

Contributors dc:contributor

• Robert Urquhart

• Economics
• Technology
• Economic Theory
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. This work may only be accessed by members of the University of Denver community. The work is provided by permission of the author for individual research purposes only and may not be further copied or distributed. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/restrictedetd/37

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:restrictedetd-1040