The Next Industrial Revolution? The Role of Public Administration in Supporting Government to Oversee 3D Printing Technologies

In recent years, developments in 3D printing have grasped the public's attention. There are a range of different applications for these technologies that have a number of social, economic, and environmental implications. This essay considers these advancements and what the role of government should be in overseeing these technologies. It argues that although these technologies have been absent from the public administration literature to date, there is an important role that the field can play in supporting governments in this endeavor. In illustrating this, the final section of the essay draws considers how a multilevel governance framework of technology might allow us to consider the broader implications of these technologies .