Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 10 - The Uncertainty of Innovation

  • from Part III - Uncertainty of Innovation and Industrial Policy
  • Weiying Zhang, Peking University, Beijing
  • Translated by Matthew Dale
  • Book:
    Re-Understanding Entrepreneurship
    Published online:
    02 May 2024
    Print publication:
    02 May 2024, pp 180-201

  • Summary

    This chapter discusses the difference between arbitrage and innovation, the unpredictability of innovation, and the four uncertainties: technological feasibility uncertainty, commercial value uncertainty, related technology uncertainty, and uncertainty brought about by politics, culture, and policies. The uncertainties of innovation means there cannot be a unified plan for innovation. Instead, innovation relies on the special skills and expertise of entrepreneurs. Innovation can only come from decentralized decisions, with each entrepreneur making his own judgment and the market determining the winner and loser. The market itself is an error correction mechanism. It can encourage the most creative and ambitious people to create wealth for society, but also guarantees that these people (entrepreneurs) do not bring about fatal disasters.