TY  - JOUR
AU  - Greenstein,Shane M.
TI  - Did Computer Technology Diffuse Quickly?: Best and Average Practice in  Mainframe Computers, 1968-1983
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 4647
PY  - 1994
Y2  - February 1994
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w4647
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w4647.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Shane Greenstein
The Elinor and Wendell Hobbs Professor
Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
2001 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL  60208-2013
Tel: 847/467-5672
Fax: 847/467-1777
E-Mail: greenstein@kellogg.northwestern.edu
M2  - featured in NBER digest on 1994-07-01
AB  - An economy benefits from advances in technical frontiers only when new technology comes into general use.  This paper measures the diffusion of computing equipment at a time when computing technology underwent dramatic technical improvement.  These data shed light on the long lag between advances in computing technology and advances in economic performance of users.  There is little evidence that long lags were produced by the 'slow diffusion' of new technology embodied in new hardware.  'Average practice' in computing advanced as rapidly as 'best practice,' lagging it by a maximum of 6 to 7 years.
ER  -