Industrial and technological policy and development

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to enter deeper in the discussion about the unavoidable way Brazil has to go through in order to construct a modern industrial and technological policy, on the basis of the knowledge and the technological innovation, which will work as a stimulator of the economic development. The different theories about this subject (SCHUMPETER, 1961; PAVITT, 1998; FREEMAN, 1984; KRUGMAN, 1986; COUTINHO, 1990), so as the principles set by the Brazilian Development Ministry (“Diretrizes de Política Industrial, Tecnológica e de Comércio Exterior”), give the support in the search to define a new model of industrial, technological policy and foreign trade for the country. The strategic role of industrial policy seems to be very evident, if it assumes its co-ordination’s work involving those productive agents, which are responsible for crucial decisions, such as these relate with investments and/or innovation, in a context of great incertitude about the consequences of their decisions in the future. Finally, the conclusion arising from this discussion demonstrates that it is crucial for the country to define a modern industrial policy, which could be able to integrate the incentive to the innovation as well as to the exports, in order to serve as a tool to impulse the development. The paper argues also, that the feasibility to this policy depends on the ability of the Government to supply the agents with a favorable context, so as an adequate regulation, purchasing policy, availability on financing facilities and fiscal incentives.