9311124 Schatzberg Dr. Schatzberg is illuminating the nature of technical change by investigating the extent to which ideologies of progress influenced technical choice. Ideologies can affect technical choice by shaping expectations of future changes. Assessing the influence of ideologies of progress is only possible through detailed case studies of technical change. Dr. Schatzberg is extending his prior work on the role of ideology in the choice of airplane materials and is applying it to two new case studies: one in electric traction and the other in electric lighting. In the first study, he is examining the choice between steam and electricity for streetcars when they were both reasonable options for providing public transportation in and between cities. In the second study, he is examining the choice between electric and gas lighting when Thomas Edison first tried to convince cities to substitute electric for gas lighting. The case studies test Dr. Schatzberg's hypothesis on the influence of ideology by examining alternative explanations, based on structural factors, most importantly the ability of the supplier firms to innovate. The case studies are primarily American, but his analysis is supplemented by comparisons with European technology. ***
