Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Revisiting the product cycle theory

This article aims to think about a key-question that involves the majority of the critic literature in respect to the product-cycle theory. What is over and what remains alive in this theory? After systematizing the basic mechanism of the product-cycle theory, it discusses some of its main insufficiencies, how it is appointed or suggested by the literature. Summarily, we argue that, if it is over the hypothesis which argues that the dynamics of innovations, and the foreign direct investments depends on the product life cycle chronology, on the other side, it remains alive and does up-to-date the hypothesis which argues that the comparative advantages have a dynamic character, which nature and relative account is modified along time in response to changes in the production conditions, in accordance to the product evolution and its complexity.

foreign direct investment; product innovation; product cycle


Instituto de Economia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Avenida Pasteur, 250 sala 114, Palácio Universitário, Instituto de Economia, 22290-240 Rio de Janeiro - RJ Brasil, Tel.: 55 21 3938-5242 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: rec@ie.ufrj.br