Carlotta Perez

Carlota Perez (born 1941) is a distinguished Venezuelan evolutionary economist whose theoretical contributions have fundamentally influenced how economists and policy makers understand technological change and economic development. Her most celebrated work, Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital, presents a comprehensive framework for analyzing how major technological innovations—from the steam engine to the internet—create waves of economic transformation spanning multiple decades. Perez's theory of techno-economic paradigms has become essential for understanding innovation cycles, speculative bubbles, and sustainable economic growth patterns. Her research demonstrates how technological revolutions follow predictable patterns characterized by periods of installation and deployment, with corresponding financial market behaviors. Beyond academia, Perez has been an influential advisor to governments and international organizations, helping shape policy around innovation and economic development in emerging markets. Her work has gained particular prominence in recent years as technologists and economists grapple with the implications of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Perez's interdisciplinary approach—combining economics, history, and systems thinking—has inspired a new generation of scholars to examine the deep connections between technology and society. Her contributions to economic theory have earned her widespread recognition and continue to provide valuable frameworks for understanding contemporary technological change.