Title: European technology between two poles: the USA and the Far East

Authors: A.P. Speiser

Addresses: Director of Research, Brown, Boveri and Co. Ltd, Baden, Switzerland

Abstract: In the last two decades, the world|s technological balance has been subject to considerable shifts. Twenty years ago the term ||technology gap|| was used to refer to the advance of American technology over Europe|s abilities. Since then, a third force has emerged in the Far East: Japanese technology is now dominant in home electronics and cameras, Japanese automobiles are increasingly competitive against Western makes, while Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Indonesia now have heavy involvement in wristwatch production, shipbuilding and other areas of manufacturing. The author asks: Is this ||third technical superpower|| primarily a result of lower wages and a more productive workforce, or is it based on a genuine technological superiority?

Keywords: technology gap; Europe; USA; Japan; Far East; United States; microelectronics; manufacturing technology; engineering education; immigration; productivity; labour wages; technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1988.025977

International Journal of Technology Management, 1988 Vol.3 No.4, pp.405 - 410

Published online: 26 May 2009 *

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