Skip to main content

A Macro Perspective on the Unique Role of VC Funds in the Process from Ideas to Growth

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 1032 Accesses

Abstract

The ideas-led growth model is the macroeconomic framework that describes the inventive process in which VC funds operate. The connection between ideas and growth, and the role of radical ideas within that connection, are discussed in this chapter. As was illustrated in Chap. 3, it takes a long time to move from an idea to concrete products, services, and production technologies that affect consumption. VC funds take a small but important role in this process. VC funds operate in what is defined in economic growth theory as the “technology push” within different technology trajectories in different periods. GPs of VC funds select radical ideas “pushed” by innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs and turn them into firms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The washing machine has been considered as perhaps the most important innovation for changes in our daily life. It freed more time than other innovations (compare TV that absorbs time) for doing other activities and has had a special gender effect increasing the possibilities for women to spend time on other activities (see Hans Rosling at https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_and_the_magic_washing_machine for an amusing presentation on statistics on the “washing line” and world development).

References

  • Agmon, T., Gangopadhyay, S., & Sjögren, S. (2014). Savings and innovation in the U.S. capital market: Defined benefits plans and venture capital funds. In J. E. Daily, F. S. Kieff, & A. E. Wilmarth (Eds.), Perspectives in financial innovation. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrow, K. J. (1962). Economic welfare and the allocation of resources for invention. In R. R. R. Nelson (Ed.), The rate and direction of inventive activity (pp. 609–625). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, C. M., & Rosenbloom, R. S. (1995). Explaining the attacker’s advantage: Technological paradigms, organizational dynamics, and the value network. Research Policy, 24(2), 233–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dosi, G. (1982). Technological paradigms and technological trajectories. A suggested interpretation of the determinants and directions of technical change. Research Policy, 11, 147–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, L. G., & Ji, S. (2014). Ambiguous volatility, possibility and utility in continuous time. Journal of Mathematical Economics, 50, January, 269–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fudenberg, D., & Tirole, J. (1984). The fat cat effect, the puppy dog ploy and the lean and hungry look. American Economic Review, 74(2), 361–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, R., & Calantone, R. (2002). A critical look at technological typology and innovativeness terminology: A literature review. The Journal of Productive Innovation Management, 19, 110–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon R. (2012). Is U.S. growth over? Faltering Innovation confronts the six headwinds (Working Paper No 18315). National Bureau of Economic Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C. (2005). Growth and ideas. In P. Aghion & S. N. Durlauf (Eds.), Handbook of economic growth (Vol. B, pp. 1065–1111). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, T. (1962). The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddison, A. (1995). Monitoring the world economy 1820–1992. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norbäck, P.-J., & Persson, L. (2009). The organization of the innovation industry: Entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and oligopolists. Journal of the European Economics Association, 7(6), 1261–1290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman, D. A., & Verganti, R. (2012). Incremental and radical innovation: Design research versus technology and meaning change. Design Issues, 30(1), 78–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramsden, J. (2013). Applied nanotechnology. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. The Journal of Political Economy, 98(5, Part 2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter, J. A. (1934). The theory of economic development. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Copyright information

© 2016 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Agmon, T., Sjögre, S. (2016). A Macro Perspective on the Unique Role of VC Funds in the Process from Ideas to Growth. In: Venture Capital and the Inventive Process. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-53660-0_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics