erc/metu
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ECONOMICS  IV
September 13-16, 2000, Ankara

Technological Capacity in the Agro-food and Electro-mechanical Sectors in Turkey

Ayşe Gözen (Yıldız Technical University)

Abstract  

The paper discusses the findings of an empirical survey conducted on agro-food and electro-mechanical industries in Turkey with special reference to their technological capacities at micro level. It is seen that the main differences are not between the two sectors, but between large and small firms in each sector. The fewer large firms utilize up-to-date technology and are competitive internationally; whereas, the small firms representing the high majority in both sectors, operate with much lower technologies. There is high dependence on technology transfer altogether and, even in the large firms, R&D activities are very limited. There are also certain specificities of each sector, like some in-house innovative improvements in agro-food firms, while electro-mechanical firms rely fully on foreign innovation. The findings shed light on technological capacity in the traditional sectors of emerging economies, especially to the significantly different status of large firms. This may be guiding for technology policy in such countries at the time when questions are raised upon technology policy of the developed world, with traditional focus on large firms.

Economic Research Center
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