Technological Host-Parasites Co-Evolution
Journal of Economics Library, Vol. 6, N. 2, pp. 97-117, 2019
28 Pages Posted: 23 Jul 2019
Date Written: July 22, 2019
Abstract
The fundamental problem in the field of technology studies is how technology evolves and sustains economic change in human society. This study confronts the problem here by proposing the theory of technological host-parasites coevolution, an approach that may be useful for bringing a new perspective to explain and generalize, whenever possible, the evolution of technology in human societies. Technological host-parasites coevolution is a mutual symbiotic relationship between a host technology and associated technologies directed to satisfy needs and/or to solve problems of human beings. To explore the potential of adopting a theory of technological host-parasites coevolution and to predict which technologies are likeliest to evolve rapidly, this study implements an empirical test based on historical data on the evolution of four example technologies (aircraft, tractor, locomotive and bi-cycle technology) to substantiate the theoretical framework. Empirical evidence is broadly consistent with the theoretical expectation that host technologies with many associated parasitic technologies advance rapidly, whereas host technologies with fewer parasitic technologies improve slowly. This study begins the process of clarifying and generalizing, as far as possible, the role of long-run coevolution between technologies in complex systems of technology. The proposed theoretical framework also lays a foundation for the development of more sophisticated concepts to explain technological and economic change in human society.
Keywords: Evolution of Technology; Technological Parasitism; Technological Host-Parasites Co-evolution; Technological Interaction; Technological Evolution; Coevolution; Nature of Technology; Technological Change; Host Technology; Technological Innovation.
JEL Classification: B50; B52; O31; O32, O33; O39
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation