Prof. Dr. R. Pauly, Institut für Empirische Wirtschaftsforschung der Universität Osnabrück, Postfach 4469,D-49069 Osnabrück. Die USA, Japan und Deutschland im Vergleich / Technological Competitiveness in an Evolutionary Perspective. A Comparative Analysis of the United States, Japan and Germany

This article focusses on the measurement of technological competitiveness and their theoretical underpinning as viewed from the evolutionary theory of "technology gaps" upon which the empirical investigation is built. The static as well as dynamic analysis is restricted to high-technology areas; special attention is paid to structural differences between the three economies. Results can be summarized in three points: First, there are large differences in the technological as well as in trade structure. Second, levels of technological and trade activities generally fall together and, third, the technological structure is rather stable over long periods of time. Consequently, the analysis of technological competitiveness based on evolutionary theory proves to be a suitable basis for formulating instruments for technology policy that try to support existing strengths and weaknesses in the national technological potential.