Innovation and diffusion in the semiconductor industry

                        Cabral, Ricardo Joao; PhD

                        UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1998
 
                        ECONOMICS, COMMERCE-BUSINESS (0505); ECONOMICS, GENERAL (0501); ECONOMICS,
                        THEORY (0511)
 

                         This dissertation accomplishes three main tasks. First, it surveys the literature on innovation and
                         diffusion, and proposes a new and more complete theoretical framework for the analysis of technological
                         diffusion of process innovations, based on recent diffusion theory. Second, it derives a dynamic model
                         of adoption and strategic firm behavior from the neo-classical profit maximization problem. This model
                         integrates four main theoretical streams of models of diffusion identified earlier. The dynamic behavior
                         model developed here includes technological change, learning-by-doing, and lumpy capacity, and
                         assumes closed-loop strategies and equilibria, leading to a dynamic model of strategic interaction which
                         is richer and more appropriate than traditional models based on open-loop or precommitment strategies
                         and equilibria. The results indicate that the optimal time of adoption depends on the specification of the
                         fixed cost function, that firms in imperfectly competitive industries will build capacity which may remain idle
                         for some period of time, and that in slowly growing markets, the incumbent will produce at full capacity
                         while the learning curve is steep, and reduce the capacity utilization rate as the learning curve flattens. In
                         rapidly growing markets, the incumbent may choose to build capacity which remains idle initially, and may
                         set price below cost, so as to move down the learning curve faster. This is true even for a monopoly
                         which does not face the threat of entry. Thus, predatory intent cannot be inferred from below-cost
                         pricing. Finally, this study provides an empirical test for the integrated approach to diffusion with data for
                         136 worldwide semiconductor manufacturing firms. The empirical results support the existence of
                         vintage effects, specifically size and product-market effects, indicate the existence of strong information
                         asymmetry effects due to differences in knowledge attributable to learning, suggest the existence of
                         strategic behavior effects associated with the order of adoption, and provide evidence supporting some
                         of the recent theoretical models of adoption. Despite the lack of evidence on imperfect foresight effects,
                         this research supports an integrated approach to studies of adoption, and suggests that future empirical
                         studies of adoption should seek to identify and model these four categories of effects.
 
 


Social Systems Simulation Group
P.O. Box 6904
San Diego, CA  92166-0904
Roland Werner, Principal
Phone/FAX  (619) 660-1603
 
Email: rwerner@sssgrp.com
Location: http://www.sssgrp.com    

Copyright © 1996-2004 Social Systems Simulation Group.
All rights reserved.
Copyright|Trademark|Privacy