The impact of market size and users’ sophistication on innovation: the patterns of demand

Abstract

The aim of this paper is an investigation on the role of demand upon innovation. Despite the decades-long debate on demand and innovation, theory still lacks an analytical formulation. This paper proposes a model where demand is conceived as a peculiar blend of two conditions, market size, and users’ sophistication. These conditions drive firms’ incentives to innovate. As the main outcome, the paper explores the underlying mechanisms of demand-pull theories and proposes a theoretical taxonomy of industries.