Publications of Robin Cowan

Books and Monographs

Cowan, Robin, (ed.) The Economics of Knowledge. forthcoming in “The International Library of Critical Writings in Economics” Edward Elgar.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard (eds.), Heterogeneous Agents, Interactions and Economic Performance vol. 521 Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, Springer, 2003.

Cowan, Robin and Staffan Hultén (eds). Electric Vehicles: Socio-economic Prospects and Technological Challenges: Aldershot: Ashgate Press, 2000.

Cowan, Robin and Mario J. Rizzo, (eds.) The Moral Status of Profits, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Reports

Overwalle, G., B. Bedsted, Robin Cowan, M. Elsmore, F. Lissoni, P. Lotz, J. Schovsbo & J. van der Eijk, 2007, Policy options for the improvement of the European patent system, Denmark: STOA, 71 p.

Cowan, Robin and Elad Harison “Intellectual property rights in a knowledge-based economy” Achtergondstudie 21, Adviesraad voor het Wetenschaps- en Technology, 2001.

Cowan, Robin and Elad Harison “Protecting the digital endeavour: prospects for intellectual property rights in the information society” Achtergondstudie 22, Adviesraad voor het Wetenschaps- en Technology, 2001.

Cowan, Robin, and Geert van de Paal European Innovation Policy in the Knowledge-Based Economy Brussels: European Commission Directorate General: DG-Enterprise, 2000.

Cowan, Robin, Georges Ferné and Dominique Foray. Information Technology Standards: The Economic Dimension. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, [ICCP Report 25] 1991.

Journal Articles

Innocenti, S. and R. Cowan, “Self-efficacy beliefs and imitation: a two-armed bandit experiment”, European Economic Review vol, 113: 156-172 2019, doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2018.12.009

Cowan, R. and G. Rossello , “Emergent structures in faculty hiring networks, and the effects of mobility on academic performance” Scientometrics, vol. 117(1): 527–562, 2018.

Barnard, H., R. Cowan, M. Mueller, “On the value of foreign PhDs in the developing world: Training versus selection effects” Research Policy , vol. 47(5): 886-900, 2018 ;

Kamath, Anant and Robin Cowan, “Social cohesion and knowledge diffusion: understanding the embeddedness–homophily association” Socio-Economic Review , vol. 13(4): 723-746 2015 ; published online August 2014, doi:10.1093/ser/mwu024.

Babutsidze, Zakaria and Robin Cowan , “Showing or telling? Local interaction and organization of behavior” Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, vol. 9(2): 151-181, 2014.

Baum, J.A.C, Robin Cowan and Nicolas Jonard, “Does evidence of network effects on firm performance in pooled cross-section support prescriptions for network strategy?” Strategic Management Journal, vol 35(5): 652–667, 2014.

Cowan, Robin and Emanuelle Fauchart, “Weak links and the management of reputational interdependencies” Strategic Management Journal, vol 35(4): 532-549, 2014.

Cowan, Robin and Natalia Zinovyeva, “University Effects on Regional Innovation” Research Policy, vol 42(3): 788–800, 2013. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.10.001.

Barnard, Helena, Robin Cowan and Moritz Mueller “Global excellence at the expense of local relevance, or a bridge between two worlds? Research in science and technology in the developing world” Research Policy , 41(4): 756-769, 2012.

Cowan, Robin, Bulat Sanditov and Rifka Weehuizen “Productivity effects of innovation, stress and social relations” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 79(3): 165-182, 2011.

Baum, Joel, Robin Cowan, and Nicolas Jonard “Network-independent partner selection and the evolution of innovation networks” Management Science, 56: 2094-2110, 2010. doi10.1287/ mnsc.1100.1229 (awarded the 2009 Best Paper Award from the Organization and Management Theory Division of the Academy of Management.)

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard “Knowledge Portfolios and the Organization of Innovation Networks” Academy of Management Review, vol 34(2), pp.320-342, 2009.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard, “Structural Holes, Innovation and the Distribution of Ideas” vol 2, pp 93-101, Journal of Economics of Interaction and Co-ordination” DOI: 10.1007/s11403-007-0024-0, 2007. reprinted in A. Pyka, Scharnhorst, A. (eds.), Innovation Networks – New Approaches in Modelling and Analyzing, Springer Complexity, Understanding Complex Systems, Berlin. 2008.

Cowan, Robin, Nicolas Jonard and Jean-Benoit Zimmermann “Bilateral Collaboration and the Emergence of Networks” Management Science, vol 53(7), pp. 1051-1067, 2007.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard “Merit, approbation and the evolution of social structure” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, vol 64, pp. 295-315, 2007.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard “Network architecture, barter exchange and the diffusion of ideas”, International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, vol 6(2), pp. 165-178, 2007.

Cowan, Robin, Nicolas Jonard and Jean-Benoit Zimmermann “Evolving Networks of Inventors” Journal of Evolutionary Economics16, pp. 155-174, 2006.

Cowan, Robin, William Cowan and Peter Swann, “Waves in Consumption with Interdependence among Consumers”, Canadian Journal of Economics37(1), pp. 149-177, 2004.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard, “Network Structure and the Diffusion of Knowledge” Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 28(8) pp. 1557-1575, 2004

Cowan, Robin, Nicolas Jonard and Muge Ozman, “Knowledge Dynamics in a Network Industry”, Technological Forecasting and Social Change71(5), pp. 469-484 2004.

Cowan, Robin and Elad Harison, “On Substitution of Intellectual Property and Free Disclosure: An Analysis of R&D Strategies In Software Technologies”, Economics of Innovation and New Technology. 13(5), pp. 477-487, 2004.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard “The Dynamics of Collective Invention”, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, vol 52(4) pp. 513-532, 2003.

Cowan, Robin, Nicolas Jonard and Jean-Benoit Zimmermann “La Dynamique Conjointe de la Connaissance et des Reseaux”, Revue d’Economie Industrielle, vol 103, pp. 253-274, 2003.

Cowan, Robin and Dominique Foray, “Evolutionary Economics and the Counterfactual Threat: On the nature and role of counterfactual history as an empirical tool in economics” Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol 12, pp. 539-562, 2002.

Cowan, Robin, “On the Number of Firms and the Amount of R&D” Economics Bulletin vol 12(6) pp. 1-9, 2002.

Cowan, Robin “Expert Systems: Aspects of and Limitations to the Codifiability of Knowledge” Research Policy vol. 30/9, pp 1355-1372, 2001. Awarded Emerald (formerly Anbar) Citation of Excellence for Research Implications, 2001.

Cowan, Robin, Paul David and Dominique Foray, “The Explicit Economics of Knowledge Codification and Tacitness” Industrial and Corporate Change, vol 9(2) pp. 211-253, 2000. reprinted in Understanding Industrial and Corporate Change, G. Dosi, D. Teece and J. Chytry (eds), Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Cowan, Robin and John H. Miller. “Technological Standards with Local Externalities and Decentralized Behaviour”, Journal of Evolutionary Economics, vol 8(3), pp. 285-96, 1998.

Cowan, Robin and William Cowan. “On Clustering in the Location of R&D: Statics and Dynamics” Economics of Innovation and New Technology, vol 6, pp. 201-229, 1998.

Cowan, Robin, William Cowan, and Peter Swann. “A Model of Demand with Interactions Among Consumers” International Journal of Industrial Organization, vol 15(6), pp. 711-732, 1997. Awarded Citation of Excellence for Research Implications, Anbar Electronic Intelligence.

Cowan, Robin and Dominique Foray, “The Economics of Codification and the Diffusion of Knowledge” Industrial and Corporate Change, vol 6(3), pp. 595-622, 1997.

Cowan, Robin and Philip Gunby. “Sprayed to Death: Path Dependence, Lock-In and Pest Control Strategies ”, Economic Journal, vol 106, pp. 521-42, May, 1996.

Cowan, Robin and Mario J. Rizzo. “The Genetic-Causal Tradition and Modern Economic Theory”, Kyklos, vol 49(3), pp. 273-317, 1996. Reprinted in Peter J. Boettke (ed.) The Legacy of Friedrich von Hayek. volume II: Philosophy. Edward Elgar, 1999. pp. 273-317. Also reprinted in Sandye Gloria-Palermo (ed.), Modern Austrian Economics: Archeology of a Revival. London: Pickering and Chatto Publishers, 2002.

Cowan, Robin and Staffan Hultén. “Escaping Lock-In: The Case of the Electric Vehicle”, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol 53(1), pp. 61-80, September 1996. Awarded Citation of Excellence for Practical Implications, and for Originality, Anbar Electronic Intelligence, 1996.

Cowan, Robin and Dominique Foray. “Quandaries in the Economics of Dual Technologies and Spillovers from Military to Civilian Research and Development” Research Policy, vol. 24(6), pp. 851-868, Nov. 1995.

Cowan, Robin. “Tortoises and Hares: Choice Among Technologies of Unknown Merit” Economic Journal vol 101, pp. 801-814, July, 1991.

Cowan, Robin. “Nuclear Power Reactors: A Study of Technological Lock-In” Journal of Economic History, vol 50, pp. 541-566, Sept, 1990.

Book Reviews

Cowan, Robin, “Review of The Organization of Economic Innovation in Europe by Alfonso Gambardella and Franco Malerba (Eds.), Research Policy, vol. 30(7), pp. 1162-1164, 2001.

Cowan, Robin. “Review of Computer Simulations in Science and Technology Studies” by P. Ahreweiler and N. Gilbert. (eds.) Research Policy, vol 29(9), pp.1193-1195, 2000.

Cowan, Robin. “Review of The Demise of Nuclear Energy? Lessons for Democratic Control of Technology” by Joseph G. Morone and Edward J. Woodhouse. Journal of Economic History Vol. 50, pp. 234-236, March 1990.

Cowan, Robin. “Review of The Suppression of the Automobile: Skulduggery at the Crossroads” by David S. Beasley. Journal of Economic Literature Vol. 27, pp. 1681-1684, Dec. 1989.

Articles in Edited Volumes and Proceedings

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard “If the Alliance Fits… : Innovation and Network Dynamics” in J.A.C. Baum and T.J Rowley (eds.), Network Strategy: Advances in Strategic Management, 25, pp. 427-455, Oxford UK: JAI/Elsevier, 2008.

Cowan, Robin, William Cowan and Patrick Llerena (2009) “Running the Marathon” in Maureen McKelvey & Magnus Holmén, (eds.) European Universities Learning to Compete: From Social Institution to Knowledge Business, Edward Elgar.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard, “Structural Holes, Innovation and the Distribution of Ideas” in A. Pyka, Scharnhorst, A. (eds.), Innovation Networks – New Approaches in Modelling and Analyzing, Springer Complexity, Understanding Complex Systems, Berlin et al. 2008. (also published in the Journal of Economics of Interaction and Co-ordination”, vol (2), pp 93-101, 2007.

Cowan, R., E. Fauchart, D. Foray and P. Gunby, “Learning from Disaster”, in Applied Evolutionary Economics and the Knowledge-Based Economy, A. Pyka and H. Hanusch (eds.), Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, pp.40-71. 2006.

Cowan, R. “Network models of innovation and knowledge diffusion” in Clusters, Networks and Innovation, S. Breschi and F. Malerba (eds.) Oxford University Press: Oxford, pp. 29-53, 2005.

Cowan, R. and N. Jonard, “Network formation, innovation and IT use”, in: The Economics of the Digital Society, L. Soete and B. ter Weel (eds.), Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, pp. 44-63, 2005.

Cowan, Robin, Nicolas Jonard “Knowledge Creation and Flows in Science” in D. Fornahl, C. Zellner and D. Audretsch (eds.) The Role of Labor Mobility and Informal Networks for Knowledge Transfer. Springer, 2005, pp. 187-210.

Cowan, R. “Зависимость от предшествующей траектории развития, причинная связь и экономическая политика” Экономический вестник Ростовского Государственного Университета (“Path dependence, causation and economic policy”, Rostov Economic Herald,) vol 2(4), pp. 10-29, 2004.

Cowan, Robin, “Waves and Cycles: Explorations in the Pure Theory of Price for Fine Art”, in Cristiano Antonelli, Dominique Foray, Bronwyn Hall and Ed Steinmueller eds. New Frontiers in the Economics of Innovation: Essays in Honour of Paul David” Edward Elgar.

Cowan, Robin, “Economic Overview of Open Access and the Public Domain in Digital Scientific and Technical Information” in J.M. Esanu and P.F. Uhlir (eds.) Open Access and the Public Domain in Digital Data and Information for Science, National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. 2004.

Cowan, Robin, Nicolas Jonard and Jean-Benoit Zimmermann “On the Creation of Networks and Knowledge” in Gallegati, M., A.P. Kirman, and M. Marsili (eds.) The complex Dynamics of Economic Interaction: Essays in Economics and Econophysics, Springer, 2004.

Cowan, Robin, “Jay Gould” in Joel Mokyr (ed.) Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, 2003.

Cowan, Robin, “Technology of Pest Control” in Joel Mokyr (ed.) Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, 2003.

Cowan, Robin, and Staffan Hultén, “The Automobile Industry and Technology” in Joel Mokyr (ed.) Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History, 2003.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard “The Workings of Scientific Communities “in A. Geuna A. Salter, and E. Steinmueller (eds.) Science and Innovation. Rethinking the rationales for funding and governance., pp. 309-334. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2003.

Cowan, Robin, Nicolas Jonard and Jean-Benoit Zimmermann “The Joint Dynamics of Networks and Knowledge”, in Robin Cowan and Nicolas Jonard (eds.), Heterogeneous Agents and Interactions and Economic Performance vol. 521 Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, Springer, pp. 155-174, 2003.

Cowan R., Harison E. “Intellectual Property Rights in Intelligent-Agent Technologies: Facilitators, Impediments and Conflicts”, in: Institute for Technology Assessmentand Systems Analysis (ITAS) and VDI/VDE-IT Information Technologies (eds.), Innovations for an e-Society: Challenges for Technology Assessment, Conference Pre-prints, Berlin, ISBN: 3-89750-097-3, 2001.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard “Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Diffusion and Network Structure” in Economies with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, A. Kirman and J-B. Zimmermann (eds.) Springer, 2001.

Cowan, Robin and Dominique Foray, “On the Codifiability of Knowledge: Technical Change and the Structure of Cognitive Activities” in P. Petit (ed.) Economics and Information, Kluwer Publishers, pp. 155-165. 2001.

Cowan, Robin and René Wintjes, “Criação, funcionamento e exploração da mudança tecnológica localizada: exemplos de intervenção pública” in Cristiano Antonelli and Jpão Ferrão (eds.) Comunicação, Conhecimento Colectivo e Inovaçao: As vantagens da aglomeração geográfica Imprensa de Ciências Sociais, Lisbon, 2001.

Cowan, Robin, “Learning Curves and Technology Policy: On Technology Competitions, Lock-In and Entrenchment” in C.-). Wene, A. Voß, T. Fried (eds.) Experience Curves for Policy Making: The Case of Energy Technologies, Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Rationelle Energieanwendung, Stuttgart, 2000.

Cowan, Robin and Dominique Foray, “Économie de la Codification et de la Diffusion des Connaisances”, in P. Petit (ed.) L’economie de l’information: Les enseignements des théories économiques, Éditions la Découverte, 1998.

Cowan, Robin, William Cowan and Peter Swann, “Interacting Consumers, Externalities and Waves in Demand”, in G. Silverberg and F. Schwietzer (eds.) Yearbook on Self-Organization vol. 9, Duncker & Humbolt, pp. 295-314, 1998.

Cowan, Robin and Dominique Foray. “The Changing Economics of Technological Learning: Implications for the Distribution of Innovative Capabilities in Europe” in Stanley Metcalfe and Xavier Vence Deza eds. Wealth From Diversity: Innovation, Structural Change and Finance for Regional Development in Europe, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 75-101, 1996.

Cowan, Robin. “The Informatization of Government: From Choice of Technology to Economic Opportunity” Commissioned for the OECD/Tübitak Conference on “The Changing Role of Governments in Introducing New Information Technologies”, Ankara, September 1993; in Science,Technology, and Industry Review, No. 16, pp. 195-223, 1995.

Cowan, Robin. “Causation and Genetic Causation in Economic Theory”, in Peter J. Boettke, ed., The Elgar Companion to Austrian Economics Aldershot: Edward Elgar, pp. 63-71, 1994.

Cowan, Robin. “High Technology and the Economics of Standardization” in M. Dierkes and U. Hoffman, eds. New Technology at the Outset: Social Forces in the Shaping of Technological Innovation Frankfurt/Main: Campus Verlag, pp. 279-300, 1992.

Cowan, Robin. “Rendements croissants d’adoption et politique technologique” in L’Évaluation économique de la Recherche et du Changement Technique in J. De Bandt and D. Foray eds. Paris: Éditions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, pp. 381-398, 1991.

Cowan, Robin. “Technological Competition and Variety: Issues of Diffusion and Intervention” in G. Bell, ed. Technology and Productivity: The Challenge for Policy, Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, pp. 509-522, 1991.

Introductions to Edited Volumes

Cowan, Robin, “Introduction”, Economics of Knowledge, forthcoming, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

Cowan, Robin and Nicolas Jonard, “Preface”, in Robin Cowan and Nicolas Jonard (eds.), Heterogeneous Agents and Interactions and Economic Performance vol. 521 Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, Springer, 2002.

Cowan, Robin and Staffan Hultén, “The Electric Vehicle: A Problem of Entrenchment or of Technological Impossibility?” in R. Cowan and S. Hultén eds. Electric Vehicles: Socio-economic Prospects and Technological Challenges: Alsershot: Ashgate Press 2000.

Cowan, Robin and Mario J. Rizzo. “Fundamental Issues in the Justification of Profits” in R. Cowan and Mario J. Rizzo eds. Profits and Morality, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, pp. 1-21, 1995.

Unpublished Work

Current Working Papers