Technological Change and the Dynamics of Industries focuses on variances in the structural and dynamic properties of manufacturing industries. By exploring the theoretical and empirical literature in industrial economics, by using a longitudinal firm-level database, and by developing and simulating a model on industrial dynamics, the following results are shown. Empirically, both the technological regime framework as well as the product or industry life cycle approach can explain differences between industries. Theoretically, it is shown that the differences in the timing and frequency of new technology adoptions provide an additional explanation for the structural and dynamic differences between industries. INDICE Introduction. Empirical Regularities in Dutch Manufacturing. Introduction. The Data. Stylised Facts and the Dutch Manufacturing Sector. Firm level. Manufacturing level. Industry level. Conclusions. Appendices. Survey of Selected Theories. Introduction. Equilibrium Models. Static equilibrium models. The 'Bounds' approach. Dynamic equilibrium models. Theoretical and empirical limitations of equilibrium models. Technological Regimes. Literature overview. Empirical evidence on innovative patterns. Technological regimes and industrial dynamics in evolutionary models. Conclusion. Product Life Cycles. Literature overview. Klepper's model. Conclusion. Appraisal. Conclusions. Technological Regimes and Industry Life Cycles in Dutch Manufacturing. Introduction. Technological Regimes. The hypotheses. Classification of industries. The results. Conclusion. Industry Life Cycles. The hypotheses. Classification of industries. The hypotheses tested. Conclusion. Combined Analysis. Conclusions. Appendix. Technological Diffusion Patterns and their Effects on Industrial Dynamics. Introduction. The Diffusion of New Product Technologies. Modelling diffusion dynamics: Shy's approach. A note on firm growth. The Model. Competitiveness of firms. Exit rules. Evolution of firm size.