Science and Technology Policies of Small OECD Economies

Abstract

Having considered the science policies of some of the larger economies, let us now look at the policies of a sample of industrialized countries with smaller economies. On the whole these economies are more dependent on foreign trade and technology than are the larger economies. For example a comparison of imports as a percentage of GDP (compare Tables 5.2 and 4.2) show that on average these are higher for the small economies under consideration. The review will help answer the following questions: Are S & T policies different in the small economies from those in the large? Are the priorities of the small economies different? Is there a tendency to be more explicit about S & T priorities in small economies? Do the small economies tend to adopt different mechanisms for co-ordinating and directing their S & T policy? For example, do they take advantage of their small size to more often co-ordinate or centrally direct their science policy? Do these countries use their smaller size to increase public participation in the setting of goals for S & T policy given their highly dependent status in the world? To what extent do their priorities reflect common world-wide trends?