Emerging　technologies,　to　a　large　extent,　have　become　driver　of　economic　development　in　a　region　and　even　a　nation,　so　to　grasp　the　economic　impact　of　emerging　technologies　is　of　significant　meaning.　This　paper　set　out　from　the　connotation　of　emerging　technologies,　then　discussed　the　economic　effect　of　emerging　technologies　respectively　from　their　evaluation　content　and　evaluation　methods.　Based　on　review　of　economic　effect　assessment　of　emerging　technologies　from　scholars　both　at　home　and　abroad,　finally　the　paper　proposed　the　idea　using　seismic　approach　to　evaluate　economic　effect　of　emerging　technologies,　and　pointed　out　basic　steps　about　seismic　approach,　which　laid　the　foundation　for　the　empirical　analysis.　©　2011　IEEE.