The patent system and the third world

Developing countries have been on the periphery of the patent system. Although 85 developing countries have patent laws, most of the larger countries are not members of the Paris Convention though their national laws tend to follow the main principles of that convention. The article indicates that in regard to many aspects of patent law, e.g., patentability, duration, fees, etc., there is considerable scope for improving patent legislation. Initiatives at the international level, culminating in the recent resolution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's Intergovernmental Group on Transfer of Technology, have established directions for a future revision of the system.     

The European economy in an expanding world

Summary Postwar economic development in Europe can be subdivided in two periods. In the first subperiod 1950–1973 growth is determined by catching up vis-d-vis the US. The second subperiod 1973–1993 is characterised by a reorientation with respect to the international division of labour. This sets the stage for future developments, which are presented in the form of three different scenarios. In the European Decline scenario Europe cannot match developments in the US and Japan. As appears from a scenario called Fortress Europe import protection provides no sensible solution. To compete on a world scale Europe needs more technological dynamics as sketched in the European Recovery scenario. Calculations of future paths are based on the WorldScan model of the Central Planning Bureau.Theo van de Klundert is Professor of Economics at Tilburg University. Ben Geurts and Hans Timmer are staff members of the Central Planning Bureau, The Hague. We are indebted to Martin Fase and Simon Kuipers for useful comments on an earlier version of the paper.     

Soviet oil and the third world

The paper explores various aspects of the relationship between the Soviet Union and the Third World countries in the field of the oil industry. It begins with a historical account of the growth of the Soviet oil industry, and its ownership pattern. But the core of the essay is the role played by the ‘Soviet oil offensive’ in the 1960s and its success in weakening the grip of the oil trade in the disintergration of the world-parity-pricing system, and the emergence of OPEC as a powerful factor in the political economy of world oil. In the final section, the paper assesses the role of Soviet oil exports in the present world context and in the future.     

System for scenario planning and forecasting world prices for steel and metallurgical raw materials

The article describes the methodology for construction and the main results obtained by implementing a scenario and modeling system intended for generating scenarios and forecasting the long-term performance of the world prices for steel and metallurgical raw materials.     

Perspectives on the world economy

Conclusion In conclusion let me summarise: the world economy can be made to move again, perhaps not as fast as in the phase before 1973. But to this end many efforts, now absorbed in counterproductive distribution quarrels and in actions to defend indefensible positions, will have to be redirected in favour of future-oriented activities in markets that ought to be open. Economics can help in supplying the necessary orientation. Such orientation requires less than forecasting in positive economics, which has achieved scientific dignity. It is merely a kind of “normative pattern prediction” but perhaps not very much less useful.     

Urbanization and third world stability

This essay reviews images of urbanization that have been held by academics and activists, including revolutionary leaders. It examines the methodology and findings of case studies in Nigeria, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Kenya, Turkey, Malaysia and other countries with the aim of determining how well suited are our data and theories for assessing the relationship between urbanization and political stability. The review examines the following topics: migration; political participation and the urban poor; radical parties and urban violence; the ‘over-urbanization’ thesis; class and ethnicity. It especially evaluates the role of so-called ‘urban marginals’ in urban political life and concludes that the evidence is overwhelming that there is no widespread ‘culture of poverty’ or ‘culture of apathy’ among the urban poor indeveloping countries.     

The computer industry in the third world: Policy options and constraints

The paper examines the conditions for the development of an indigenous computer industry in Third World countries. It argues that, within the existing international division of labor in the industry, the opportunities for local computer production are limited for most developing countries. Increasing levels of automation are likely to result in diminished competitiveness for any but the largest manufacturers. Only countries with large internal markets can expect to sustain an integrated computer manufacturing base. For most countries, a niche-oriented approach concentrating on the development of software and the configuration of systems for local and possibly regional vertical markets is apt to be the most viable entry strategy. Selective backward integration into hardware manufacture may be possible, but the types of equipment manufactured locally must be carefully selected with a view not only to the potential domestic market, but also to the suitability of the existing infrastructure and supplier networks to support cost-effective manufacture. For the establishment of an industry which is at least semi-autonomous technologically, policymakers need to take measures to strengthen the R&D infrastructure, to upgrade scientific and technical education, and to induce those nationals working for computer multinationals, whether at home or abroad, to start up their own local computer ventures. Skilled and experienced computer specialists as well as a computer literate population are perhaps the two most valuable assets for the development of an indigenous computer industry.     

China and the evolution of the world economy

China's rapid growth and its growth model have accelerated important existing structural trends in the world economy and made them decisive characteristics of the global economy. In particular, China has ensured that this will be the era of the global market economy; the super-industrial economy; the post-industrial economy; the ecologically constrained economy; the complex economy; the highly globalized economy; the innovation economy; an economy with a new moral consciousness about the global supply chain; and an economy with an emerging new monetary system.     

港口经济与世界工厂

一、港口经济与制造业发展的关系第一,什么是港口经济,因为我没有研究,胆子就大一点做个判断:港口经济是货主、船运公司和码头业务的结合体,是物流链和交通枢纽及相应服务产业的循环体。从产业经济学的角度看,港口经济也是一种产业集群,或者说产业集群的一种形式。产业集群大概有三种形式:产业纵向关联、横向关联和区位优势指向的产业集群。这三种产业集群的形式在港口经济中均有所体现。同时港口经济也具有产业集群的三大特性:共生性、互动性和柔韧性。“共生性”是一些企业和一些机构在特定地理位置上的集中,相互之间有共生效应,能产生规…     

展会经济与世界贸易

对一个城市来说,成功的会展是名利双收的事业。一个城市能不能跻身于国际大都市,一个重要标志就是召开国际会议的数量和规模。     

Relief and reform in third world debt

This paper reviews the debt problem and argues that there is a need for wider financial reforms as well as debt relief. North-South dispute is best resolved through the development of agreed rules governing both debt relief and balance-of-payments financing for exogenously created shocks. The poorest countries require both debt relief and increased finance. Improved compensatory finance, more liberal supplementary finance and conditional repayment arrangements are recommended for all. The terms of new arrangements should be applied retroactively as debt relief. A new issue of special drawing rights is advocated for the financing of these relief and reform proposals.     

Essential drugs for the third world

Rather than wasting money on pharmaceuticals they do not need, developing countries should make judicious choice, and wise use, of items figuring on the model list recommended by WHO of some 200 of the essential drugs which can cover the needs of the majority of the population.     

The role of the Chinese economy in the world economy: A U.S. perspective

In this paper I first review the amazing progress that free market economic reforms have brought to the Chinese people after years of central control and suppression of markets. Thanks to greater economic freedom, economic growth increased sharply and hundreds of millions of people have been removed from poverty. By all accounts, however, economic freedom in China has a long way to go. The U.S. perspective should be that these market reforms continue. These further reforms toward economic freedom and economic growth in China will be beneficial to the United States. Such reforms would include a greater transparency about the monetary policy strategies, more openness of the capital accounts and less exchange rate and stock market intervention. Such economic reforms should be welcomed and encouraged by the United States and other countries.     

世界经济回顾与展望

2001年，世界经济普遍不景气，国际贸易，国际投资，股市、金融市场等方面均不同程度下挫。唯中国经济一枝独秀，2002年，世界经济发展环境仍具有很大不确定性。     

港口经济率先与世界经济接轨的若干思考

我国加入世贸组织,成为这个号称“经济联合国”组织的正式成员,标志着我国对外开放和发展开放型经济进入新阶段,必须积极加快国民经济同世界经济全面接轨的步伐。而港口经济作为对国内国外的双向     

世界经济活动中的国家与超国家因素和对策

经济全球化是当代世界经济活动的发展趋势，国际组织、各国政府、跨国公司、非政府组织等各种因素对经济全球化进程产生重要的影响。对此，我国应该采取相应的对策措施，以因应经济全球化的挑战。