Leapfrogging Technology - Cost-Effective Solution for Pollution in Developing Countries?
Author: Masami Kojima Date: 2/1/2003 (PDF, 200KB)
Leapfrogging technology makes sense where technological advances are driven by market demand, as in telecommunications and information technology. But technological advances driven by the need to deal with such externalities as pollution are more complicated, for they do not inherently increase profitability or efficiency. Using air pollution by vehicles as an illustration, this Note examines the issues that need to be considered in deciding whether leapfrogging technology is a cost-effective solution.