[Sigifp-l] Fwd.: B. Godin's essay on Fritz Machlup's Construction of a Synthetic Concept

[M.J. Menou]

>
> Dear colleagues,
>
> Please find the link to the most recent paper in the series: B. Godin (2008), The Knowledge-Based Economy: Fritz Machlup's Construction of a Synthetic Concept. Available at http://www.csiic.ca/bulletin.html.
>
> Abstract
> In 1962, the economist Fritz Machlup published an influential study that measured the production and distribution of knowledge in the United States. Machlup's calculations gave rise to a whole literature on the knowledge economy, its policies and its measurement. Today, the knowledge-based economy or society has become a buzzword in many writings and discourses, both academic and official. Where does Machlup's concept of a knowledge economy come from?
>
> This paper looks at the sources of Machlup's insight. It discusses how The Production and Distribution of Knowledge in the United States is a work that synthesizes ideas from four disciplines or fields of research - philosophy (epistemology), mathematics (cybernetics), economics (information) and national accounting - thus creating an object of study, or concept for science policy, science studies and the economics of science.
>
> Do not hesitate to comment.
>
>
> Benoît Godin
>
> Professeur, INRS (Montreal)
> Visiting Fellow (Imperial College, Londres)
> benoit.godin[at]ucs.inrs[dot]ca
>
>
> Project on the History and Sociology of Science, Technology and Innovation Statistics
>
> http://www.csiic.ca/project.html
>
>  

-- 
=====================================================================
Dr. Michel J. Menou
Visiting Professor, SLAIS, University College London, U.K.
Consultant in ICT policies and Knowledge & Information Management
Adviser of Somos at Telecentros board http://www.tele-centros.org
Member of the founding steering committee of 
Telecenters of the Americas Partnership http://www.tele-centers.net/
B.P. 15
F-49350 Les Rosiers sur Loire, France
Email: micheljmenou[at]gmail[dot]com
michel[dot]menou[at]orange[dot]fr
Phone: +33 (0)2 41511043
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ciber/peoplemenou.php
=====================================================================