Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review‘This fascinating book by Christian Le Bas unveils a radical change in the direction of product innovation: frugal innovation. New frugal products, “more durable, simple, effective, essential" compete with more sophisticated but more expensive goods. This is critical for developing economies but is becoming crucial for a large share of the demand of developed ones. The author has opened a new Pandora's box in the economics of innovation.’ -- Cristiano Antonelli, University of Torino and Collegio Carlo Alberto, Italy
‘This is a fresh and important addition to the literature on frugal innovation. Christian Le Bas has done an excellent job in bringing key elements of the economics of frugal innovation together. This book will be a reference on any economics of innovation bookshelf.’ -- Alexander Brem, University of Stuttgart, Germany
Table of ContentsContents: Preface Introduction: frugal innovation as a Schumpeterian innovation of transformative change 1. What frugal innovation is: defining frugal innovation and delineating its forms through cases studies with Sana Khan 2. Frugal innovation as a new technological paradigm: an interpretation 3. The economics of the frugal direction of technological change: resource constraints scheme, induced direction models, and demand-side approaches 4. Frugal innovation as environmental innovation: analytical frame and diffusion factors 5. Frugal innovation and sustainability, exploring the empirical relevance of a new taxonomy: fully versus weakly sustainable frugal innovation with Sana Khan 6. What type of innovator is a frugal innovator? An econometric exercise with Mounir Amdaoud 7. Frugal innovation and the process of disruption with Souhaila Kammoun 8. Frugal innovation and economic dynamics in developing economies Conclusion to The Economics of Frugal Innovation References Index
