Innovation and Development

On innovation and development each generation of women and man has to make its original effort - particularly in our time, characterized by a tremendous “essor” of high tech and AI. The idea that such efforts should be built easily from scratch is, however, rather naïve. Actually, Albert Hirschman proposed and defended his specific point of view on this subject since the ‘50s and ‘60s of last century – for less developed and then more developed countries. It is a seminal approach, even decisive for our time of superpower rivalries and of strong impulses to innovation and development. It can be activated through interpretations and proposals that profit also from a few of his well-known self-subversions. Therefore, this book on Albert Hirschman’s Work and Legacy alternates careful reconstructions of this Master’s discoveries through time and the practical utilizations of them - say for open and close innovation as well as for harmonic innovation that limits negative consequences of structural changes and its social effects. Analogously, economic development of companies and countries can be significantly helped by Hirschmanian stratagems, induced mechanisms, and clever utilization of local conditions.