THE TECHNOLOGY GAP: ANALYSIS AND APPRAISAL

The paper considers the following five points First, the technological gap is a meaningful concept, and the phenomenon probably is real. Second, it is nothing new something like a technological gap between the United States and Europe has existed for upwards of one hundred years. Third, what is new about the situation and what lies behind the present strongly articulated concern expressed by Europeans has less to do with general economic well-being than with issues of national autonomy, prestige, and military power. Fourth, the reasons for the long-standing gap are complex and poorly understood but, aside from military and space technology, they probably have far less to do either with U. S. Government R and D policy, or with the size of the U. S. corporate giants, than many people seem to believe. Fifth, well meant American arguments that economic growth will not be furthered by expensive defense and space R and D programs or the development of giant corporations in Europe will not be persuasive, given the real issues involved.