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Complexity, Cost Reduction and Productivity Improvement through History

Larsson, Mats LU and Nilsson, Carl-Henric LU (2007) 1. p.485-496
Abstract
History shows us that in the cost/performance ratio of any given product has decreased continuously. This may wrongly have led us to the conclusion that improvements can continue infinitely at the current pace. Our proposition is that we trust a mental picture that is not consistent with the future level of potential improvements in technology and business, which in turn has repercussions for societal change. This article draws on the theory of Tainter (1988) and it argues that recent developments in business may reverse the previous development towards increasing complexity, but it may still increase the risk of an economic collapse.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
limits to growth, cost benefit
host publication
Challenges in the management of New Technologies
editor
Hörlesberger, Marianne ; El-Nawawi, Mohamed and Khalil, Tarek
volume
1
pages
485 - 496
publisher
World Scientific Publishing
ISBN
9812708553
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9db8e21b-3775-4d59-9613-8375f66aeac7 (old id 1469108)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:52:03
date last changed
2021-01-25 10:54:25
@inbook{9db8e21b-3775-4d59-9613-8375f66aeac7,
  abstract     = {{History shows us that in the cost/performance ratio of any given product has decreased continuously. This may wrongly have led us to the conclusion that improvements can continue infinitely at the current pace. Our proposition is that we trust a mental picture that is not consistent with the future level of potential improvements in technology and business, which in turn has repercussions for societal change. This article draws on the theory of Tainter (1988) and it argues that recent developments in business may reverse the previous development towards increasing complexity, but it may still increase the risk of an economic collapse.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Mats and Nilsson, Carl-Henric}},
  booktitle    = {{Challenges in the management of New Technologies}},
  editor       = {{Hörlesberger, Marianne and El-Nawawi, Mohamed and Khalil, Tarek}},
  isbn         = {{9812708553}},
  keywords     = {{limits to growth; cost benefit}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{485--496}},
  publisher    = {{World Scientific Publishing}},
  title        = {{Complexity, Cost Reduction and Productivity Improvement through History}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/10870835/2007_Larsson_Nilsson.pdf}},
  volume       = {{1}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}