OBJECTIVES
1. Understand current views of technology, technological change, and the localization of the development and use of technology.
2. Pursue or at least propose theoretically based empirical research relevant to these issues.
3. Improve ability to discuss concepts and critique written work.

MEETINGS
Thursdays, 2:30 - 5:20 p.m., Smith Hall 409:  2 April - 4 June 1998.

INSTRUCTOR  AND  OFFICE  HOURS
James W. Harrington, jwh@u.washington.edu, 206-616-3821, fax 206-543-3313;  Smith Hall 303D
Office Hours:  Tuesdays and Fridays, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
website:  http://weber.u.washington.edu/~jwh

COURSE  REQUIREMENTS
Participation in seminar meetings, evincing preparation of material:  20 percent.
Preparation of and commentary on written work based on assigned reading and the final paper:  20 percent.  Reading will be primarily from five books;  students are expected to do addditional reading, in support of individual interests and paper topics, and to share some of this with the class.
Final paper, due 5:00 p.m. Thursday 11 June:  60 percent.

FINAL  PAPER
· This is conceived as a typical seminar paper:  15-30 pages (double-spaced) with substantial referencing.
· The topic should relate to the material in the course and should advance your own research agenda.
· The paper should either entail or propose some empirical research.
· We will develop these papers during the quarter.  Each participant is expected to prepare outlines and drafts of sections, and to discuss problems faced in developing the paper, throughout the quarter.
We will set more specific guidelines as we go along.

WEEKLY  ASSIGNMENTS
  2 April:  Introductions and definitions (Malecki Ch. 1 & 2)
  9 April:  Views of technology and technological change (Freeman & Soete Ch. 1;  Malecki Ch. 3;  Storper, Ch. 5)
16 April:  Microeconomic approaches to technological change (Freeman & Soete Part 2)
23 April:  Localization and regionalization of technological change (Castells Ch. 1 & 2;  Malecki Ch. 4)
30 April:  Technological networks and their localization (Storper Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4;  Simmie Ch. 2)
  7  May:  Macroeconomic perspectives on technological change (Malecki Ch. 7;  Freeman & Soete Ch. 13 & 19)
14  May:  Institutions;  Small and large firms (Malecki Ch. 5 & 6;  Simmie Ch. 3, 4, 5)
21  May:  Institutions (Storper 6 & 10;  Simmie Ch. 7)
28  May:  Globalization (Storper, Ch. 7, 8, 9;  Castells Ch. 6;  Freeman & Soete Ch. 14)
  4  June:  Peripheral regions and developing countries (Malecki 8;  Simmie 6 & 7)
  9  June (4:30 - 6:30):  Local government policy (Malecki Ch. 9;  Simmie 8, 9, 10, 11)