The U.S. non-wood, non-metal primary building materials sector in flux: A sectoral analysis and a proposed materials development and innovation framework

An examination of the building materials sector raised two critical questions: Why do more firms in the building materials sector not attempt to directly gauge end-usersʹ preferences? And, why do many materials producers employ self-limiting definitions of building materials? The sector was analyzed using transaction cost economics and network theory. A framework was then developed for materials development and innovation. The role of a key actor in the framework, the researcher, was illustrated through a materials study performed in a developing country. In concluding, it is suggested the framework could be used to expand the study, expand markets for the producer and strengthen producer–researcher links.