Patterns of technological intensity in Brazilian industry: A comparative study with developed countries
André Tosi Furtado
Departamento de Política Científica e Tecnológica, Instituto de Geociências, UNICAMP (University of Campinas), São Paulo, Brazil
Ruy de Quadros Carvalhoc
Departamento de Política Científica e Tecnológica, Instituto de Geociências, UNICAMP (University of Campinas), São Paulo, Brazil
PP: 152 - 171
Abstract
The present work aims to demonstrate that Brazilian industries display levels of efforts in technology that differ from those encountered in developed countries. In order to define these levels we have adopted indicators of technological intensity (expenditure in R&D/added value), of the structure of spending in R&D and of the human resources allocated to each industry. We have compared these indicators to those of other developed countries where similar statistics are available.
The data regarding expenditure and human resources in Brazil, when compared to that of developed countries, has displayed considerable structural differences in the sectoral levels of technology intensity. These differences have been attributed to the fact that Brazil is a relatively closed market economy, with a low level of technological specialization in the high or medium-high technology industries, and except in the case of the aeronautics industry, that relies on the external flow of technology.
To explain the differentiated levels that Brazil presents among its different industries, we have made use of four key factors: technology tacitness; supply's local content; the presence of foreign firms; and, the government policies adopted. Due to these differences, the present study proposes a classification of industries based on R&D intensity which, when applied to Brazil's specific case, differs from classification defined by OECD (the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).
Keywords
industrial survey; technological intensity; sectoral patterns; international comparisons
References
Bell RM (1984) Learning and the Accumulation of Industrial Technological Capacity in Developing Countries, in Fransman M and King K, Technological Capability in the Third World, Macmillan: London.
Capedevielle M (2003) Composición tecnológica de la industria manufacturera mexicana (Technological composition of the Mexican manufacturing industry), in J Aboites and G Dutrénit (coord.) Innovación, Aprendizage y Creación de Capacidades Tecnológicas (Innovation, Learning and the Creation of Technological Capabilities), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Miguel Angel Porrúa Ed, México DF.
Correa C (1989) Propriedad intelectual, inovación tecnologica y comercio internacional (Intellectual property, technological innovation and international comerse), in Comercio Exterior 39(12): 1059-1082.
Correa C (1997) New international standards for intellectual property: impact on technology flows and innovation in developing countries, Science and Public Policy 24(2):79-92.
Embraer (2003) Annual Report 2002, Form 20 F, Embraer, São José dos Campos.
Erber FS (2001) O padrão de desenvolvimento industrial e tecnológico e o futuro da indústria brasileira (The level of industrial and technological development and the future of Brazilian industry) Revista de Economia Contemporânea. UFRJ, Vol 5. Edição especial (Contemporary Economy magazine. UFRJ -Federal University of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Vol 5. special edition).
Furtado A (coord.) (1994) Capacitação Tecnológica, Competitividade e Política Industrial: uma Abordagem Setorial e por Empresas Líderes (Technological Capability, Competitivity and Industrial Policies: a Sectoral Approach made by Leading Firms), Texto para Discussão N° 348, IPEA, Brasília. (Discussion Paper, no 348, IPEA - Research Institute of Applied Economics, Brasília).
Furtado C (1972) Teoria e Política do Desenvolvimento Econômico (Theory and Policy of Economic Development), Companhia Editora Nacional, Rio de Janeiro.
IBGE (2002) Pesquisa Industrial 2000 (Industrial Survey - 2000) 19(1), Empresa, IBGE. (regarding the 'Company', IBGE- the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).
IBGE (2002) Pesquisa Industrial Inovação Tecnológica 2000. (Industry Technological Innovation Survey - 2000) Finep, MCT, IBGE: Rio de Janeiro. (Finep - the Financing Agency of Studies and Projects, MCT - The Ministry of Science and Technology, IBGE -the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics: Rio de Janeiro).
Katz J (1976) Importación de tecnologia, aprendizage y desarrollo dependiente. (The importation of technology, the learning process and dependent development) Fondo de Cultura Económica: México. (The Fund for Economic Culture: Mexico).
Katz J and Stumpo G (2001) Regimes sectoriales, productividad y competitividad internacional. (Sectoral regimes, productivity and international competitivity) Revista de la CEPAL 75: 137-159. (The ECLAC magazine - The Economic Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean).
Lall S (1982) Technological learning in the Third World: some implications of technological exports, in F Stewart and J James (eds) The Economics of New Technology in Developing Countries, Frances Pinter: London, pp.157-179.
Mansfield E, Schawrtz M and Wagner S (1981) Imitation Costs and Patents: An Empirical Study. Economic Journal 91: 907-918.
National Science Foundation (2003) Science and Engineering Indicators - 2002, NSF, Washington DC.
Moreira MM (1999a) Indústria Brasileira nos Anos 90: o que se pode dizer (The Brazilian Industry in the 90s: what can be Said), in F Giambiagi and M Moreira (org.) A Economia Brasileira nos Anos 90s (The Brazilian Economy in the 90s), BNDES, Rio de Janeiro.
Moreira MM (1999b) Estrangeiros em uma Economia Aberta: Impactos Recentes sobre a Produtividade, Concentração e Comércio Exterior (Foreigners in na Open Economy: Recent Impacts on Productivity, Concentration and Foreign Trade), in F Giambiagi and M Moreira (org.) A Economia Brasileira nos Anos 90 (The Brazilian Economy in the 90s), BNDES, Rio de Janeiro.
OECD (2002) Science, Technology and Industry Outlook 2002. OECD: Paris.
Pinto A (1970) Natureza e Implicações da Heterogeneidade Estrutural da América Latina (The Nature and Implications of Structural Heterogeneity in Latin America), in R Bielschowsky (org.) Cinquenta anos de pensamento da CEPAL (Fifty years of thoughts from ECLAC), Ed. Record, ECLAC, Cofecon, Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo 2: 567-588. (Record Publishing Co, ECLAC, Cofecon, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo).
Quadros R, Furtado A, Bernardes RC and Franco E (1999) Padrões de Inovação Tecnológica na Indústria Paulista: comparação com países industrializados (Levels of Technological Innovation in the Industry of the state of São Paulo: a comparison with industrialized countries) São Paulo em Perspectiva 13(1-2): 53-66. (São Paulo in Perspective).
Sirilli G. (1998) Old and new paradigms in the measurement of R&D, Science and Public Policy 25(5): 305-311.
(Translator's note: Titles and information contained in parentheses are merely for informative purposes and do not represent the official title of any translated version of any original piece of work.)
eContent Home
