Why and how innovations get adopted: A tale of four models

Richard R. Nelson, Alexander Peterhansl, Bhaven Sampat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Scholars studying innovation have proposed several different models of the adoption process. This essay identifies two broad dimensions which differentiate the principal models: the strength of the evidence regarding an innovation's efficacy and the extent of increasing returns. In this essay, we propose that differences across these dimensions map to four models of the adoption/diffusion process prominent in the literature. We then analyze the diffusion patterns of six well-studied innovations in terms these variables, and discuss which models seems to fit them best.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)679-699
Number of pages21
JournalIndustrial and Corporate Change
Volume13
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2004

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Economics and Econometrics

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