Re: Re: Systems of innovation

["Anthony D'Costa" <dcosta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am familiar with the NIS literature.  Peter is correct that industry and
technology policy are not separable but I think NIS is still very relevant
today, especially for developing countries.  One of the important
components of NIS is the role of the state, among other institutions, and
any form of economic management will require the state, albeit in an
altered way.  So while dirigisme is out, the handmaiden role is still
important.  Investment in education as a part of NIS is still important,
this could be done by both public and private sectors, but we know
problems of market failure hence the state involvement.  Similarly,
provisioning of technological infrastructures--education, R&D, etc. are
within the state purview.  The Indian software industry is a good example
of how an interventionist state transformed itself to a facilitator by
not getting involved directly but by providing educational and
technological infrastructures and institutional changes. There are many
interesting reasons for this but for the Indian government there is
still lot of space to pursue creatively an NIS, notwithstanding economic
liberalization.

Cheers, Anthony

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Anthony P. D'Costa
Associate Professor				Ph: (253) 692-4462
Comparative International Development		Fax: (253) 692-5718		
University of Washington			Box Number: 358436
1900 Commerce Street				
Tacoma, WA 98402, USA
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On Tue, 5 Mar 2002, Peter Dorman wrote:

> Right.  I argued in "Actually Existing Globalization" (published in a collection a
> few years ago) that industrial policy is ultimately understandable only as
> technology policy, but that the era of national technology (or innovation) systems
> is largely over.  At the time I reviewed some of the literature pro and con; I
> think there are some references in my article.  I'll be glad to send an electronic
> copy to anyone interested.
>
> Peter
>
> Bill Rosenberg wrote:
>
> > Is anyone familiar with the "National Systems of Innovation" approach to
> > economic development?  The Labour/Alliance government has announced an economic
> > strategy which is said to owe much to this. I understand that Chris Freeman
> > (UK), Bengt-Åke Lundvall (Denmark), Charles Edquist (Sweden) and Richard Nelson
> > (New York) are leaders in the field. Any views would be welcome.
> >
> > Bill
>
>