Richard R. Nelson

Richard R. Nelson was an American economist and academic who was professor of economics at Columbia University. He was one of the leading figures in the revival of evolutionary economics thanks to his seminal book An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change (1982) written jointly with Sidney G. Winter. He was also known for his work on industry, economic growth, the theory of the firm, and technical change. The book he edited, National innovation systems: A comparative analysis (1996) is one of the most influential in innovation studies. Nelson died on January 28, 2025, at the age of 94.