Technological trajectories and sustainability : An intersector analysis of Brazilian subsidiaries of Swedish multinational corporations

• Evolutionary theories on technological change are particularly useful for understanding technological regime shifts toward the environment and its sustainability. It is argued that fundamental changes in production processes and consumption patterns underpinned by alternative technological trajectories are required for achieving environmental sustainable direction. Such changes, which go beyond the control of particular pollutants and eco-efficiency improvements, are referred to as technological regime shifts. The focuses of this chapter is to review the relationship between technological trajectories to the issue of environmental technological change. This is illustrated by certain selected sectors of Brazilian subsidiaries of Swedish multinational corporations (MNCs). Technological trajectories are expressed through process innovations: (i) a sequence of steps on incremental innovation; (ii) a sequence of steps oriented toward radical innovation, associated with products to redefine the market, exposing structural change. The chapter seeks to enlarge the understanding of the intricate process of sustainability and technological paths of the subsidiaries of MNCs in newly industrialized countries.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences (hsv//eng)

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