J. A. Schumpeter, a Theorist of Innovation and a Historian of Economic Science (original) (raw)

The paper commemorates the 70th anniversary of the death of Joseph Alois Schumpeter, the world-renowned economist of Czech-Austrian origin and creator of innovation theory. It analyses Schumpeter’s work from the perspective of two aspects, complementing each other in his work: historical economic analysis and entrepreneurial innovation theory. The introduction reveals the genesis of his relation to enterprise, innovation, and the historical economics concept. The historical approach to economics appears in his scientific works at the time of his work at the European universities in Chernivtsi, Graz and Bonn, as well as in his later work at Harvard University. The paper also studies the rise of his innovation theory, first appearing during his work in Graz, Styria, and its gradual reflection in his professional work. The paper shows how these approaches merge in his economic teaching, which is very specific and includes both purely economic and technological and social aspects.