POLICIES FOR THE PROMOTION OF EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE: A EUROPEAN POINT OF VIEW

Innovation in the auto industry, is discussed, with particular reference to Italy, including the evolution of the product and the production processes. These are directed by government, consumer, and employee demands. The government promulgates motor vehicle standards; the consumer demands an economical, quality product; the industry worker calls for new technology and practices to reduce production-line boredom. It is suggested that increasingly complex regulations to meet a multiplicity of requirements may serve as a means to another end than that originally intended. For example, consumer protection and environmental regulations, although useful, could also be used to set up artificial barriers to markets or to accelerate a process leading toward centralized economic planning. The automobile manufacturers are urged to demand that the various forces involved in regulating innovation use the correct functioning of the market as their yardstick.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Also published in HS-028 918, "Government, Technology, and the Future of the Automobile," New York, 1980 p 217-20. Presented at Harvard Business School Symposium on Government, Technology, and the Automotive Future, Boston, 19-20 October 1978.
• Corporate Authors:

  McGraw-Hill, Incorporated

  330 West 42nd Street
  New York, NY  United States  10036
• Authors:
  • AGNELLI, U
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Pagination: 4 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile industry; Innovation; Markets; Policy analysis; Regulations
• Subject Areas: Law; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00393042
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-028 932
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 28 1985 12:00AM