Research
I. THE POLITICS OF INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN REGIONS
II. AUTOMATION AND THE WORKFORCE IN MANUFACTURING
III. REGULATING INNOVATION
Commentary
- Armstrong, Ben. “Industrial Policy and Local Economic Transformation: Evidence from the U.S. Rust Belt.” Economic Development Quarterly. Vol. 35, No. 3 (August 2021): 181-196. (link)
- Armstrong, Ben. “Would Pittsburgh Have Transformed Without State Intervention? A Response to Comments” Economic Development Quarterly. Vol. 35, No. 3 (August 2021): 216-218. (link)
- Armstrong, Ben and Dan Traficonte. “Models for Building Regional Manufacturing Economies: From ‘Home Alone’ to ‘Regional Ecosystems.’” Initiative for Knowledge and Innovation in Manufacturing Paper. August 2021.
- Armstrong, Ben and Elisabeth Reynolds. “In Search of the Middle: The Economic Geography of ‘Hollowing Out’ in the United States.” May 2021.
- Armstrong, Ben. "Brass Cities: Innovation Policy and Local Economic Transformation." PhD Dissertation. 2019. (link)
- Armstrong, Ben. “Broken Anchors: Power and Diversification in ‘Company Towns’.” August 2018.
II. AUTOMATION AND THE WORKFORCE IN MANUFACTURING
- Armstrong, Ben. “Lessons for the Long Tail: Robot Adoption at Small and Medium Manufacturers.” Robotics: Science and Systems – Workshop on Accessibility of Robot Programming and Work of the Future (July 2021). (link)
- Armstrong, Ben, Suzanne Berger, and Bill Bonvillian. “Advanced Technology, Advanced Training: A New Policy Agenda for U.S. Manufacturing.” Initiative for Knowledge and Innovation in Manufacturing Paper. May 2021. (link)
- Armstrong, Ben. “Survivors and Startups: A Firm-Level Study of Workforce Challenges at U.S. Manufacturers.” MIT Work of the Future Working Paper. February 2021. (link)
- Armstrong, Ben and Richard M. Locke. “What Workers Think About Automation: Findings from a National Survey of the American Workforce.” January 2020. (link)
III. REGULATING INNOVATION
- Armstrong, Ben. “Regulating Risky Business: The Politics of Safety at Uber in the United States.” February 2020. (link)
- Armstrong, Ben. “Will You Let a Robot Give You a Ride? Understanding Popular Perceptions of Autonomous Vehicles.” July 2020. (link)
Commentary
- Armstrong, Ben “Why Innovation Hubs Fail.” Boston Review. Forum XIX (Summer 2021).
- [Public Radio Forum] “Why is Pittsburgh’s Economy Greater than Cleveland’s?” The Sound of Ideas. 5 August 2021.
- Armstrong, Ben. “To Spark a Discussion in a Zoom Class, Try a ‘Silent Meeting.’” The Chronicle of Higher Education. 18 November 2020.
- Armstrong, Ben. “Automation, Training, and the Future of Work.” Taubman Center Policy Brief. Brown University. February 2020.
- Armstrong, Ben. “Unraveling the Silicon Valley Consensus.” Boston Review. 26 Jul 2016.