Facing the Technological Challenge

The Third World faces new challenges from rising technologies and the process of globalization in capital, goods and service markets. With this view, the book examines the pros and cons of using these technologies at different levels of technological capability in the Third World. The implications of this challenge for most developing countries, which are users but not producers of these technologies, are considered in terms of their actual and potential impact on employment, income distribution and competitiveness. This last factor is becoming more important, given increasing international competition and globalization of production. The book also focuses on the need for cleaner or enviromentally-friendly technologies, particularly in small enterprises, to prevent resource depletion and sustainable development.