Electronics and Industrial Policy: The Case of Computer Controlled Lathes

ISBN-13: 9789401164887 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 252 str.

Staffan Jacobsson

Opis

There is a rapidly expanding literature on the economics of the so- called 'new technologies' - especially on those using microelectronic systems. Dr. Jacobsson's book deals with microelectronics-based innovation in machine tools: with the production and use of computer numerically controlled machine tools in the world economy and especially in the Third World. Jacobsson is mainly interested in the implications which CNC machine tools may be expected to have for users and producers in the Newly Industrialising Countries. He approaches this as a problem in applied economics and the book will have a primary interest for those economists whose concern is with the problems of industrialisation in developing countries. It will be parti- cularly valuable to those who are preoccupied with the role of local capital goods manufacture and with the technological preconditions for this kind of production. Jacobsson is able to give detailed and specific arguments on these matters as far as CNC machine tools are concerned. In my view, the book has a considerably wider interest and relevance than its specification may at first sight suggest. Jacobsson's achieve- ment is not just that he has provided valuable and convincing quantita- tive arguments about policy in setting up production of CNC machine tools. In addition, he has set a new and much needed methodological standard for analysis of the impacts of 'new technologies' on the international economy.

Spis treści

1 Introduction.- 2 The Technology and its Diffusion.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 CNC lathe technology.- 2.3 Choice of technique in turning.- 2.4 The factor-saving bias of CNC lathes.- 2.4.1 Some examples from Sweden.- 2.4.2 The effects on the use of the various factors of production.- 2.5 Conclusions.- 3 Growth and Market Structure in the International CNC Lathe Industry.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 A theoretical framework for analysing the industry.- 3.2.1 The industry in a dynamic context.- 3.3 The Japanese expansion in the CNC lathe industry.- 3.3.1 A discussion of the factors behind the Japanese success.- 3.4 The European response.- 3.4.1 Overall cost leadership strategy.- 3.4.2 Focus strategy.- 3.4.3 Differentiation strategy.- 3.5 A note on the US producers.- 3.6 Concluding remarks on the strategies pursued by firms based in the OECD.- Notes.- 4 Barriers to entry into the Overall Cost Leadership Strategy.- 4.1 Research and Development.- 4.2 Procurement of components.- 4.3 Manufacturing.- 4.4 Marketing and after-sales services.- 4.5 An attempt to specify the minimum efficient scale of production.- Notes.- 5 The position of the NICs within the CNC Lathe Industry.- 5.1 The position of eight NIC-based firms within the low-performance strategy.- Notes.- 6 The Case of Argentina.- 6.1 Growth and structure of the engineering industry.- 6.2 The Argentinian machine tool industry.- 6.3 Government policy.- 6.4 The diffusion of CNC lathes in Argentina.- 6.4.1 The historical rate of diffusion of CNC lathes in Argentina.- 6.4.2 An estimate of the future rate of diffusion.- 6.4.3 Conclusion.- 6.5 The firm producing CNC lathes.- 6.5.1 The full export oriented strategy.- 6.5.2 The regional market strategy.- 6.6 Summary and conclusions.- Notes.- 7 The Case of Taiwan.- 7.1 Growth and structure of the engineering industry.- 7.2 The Taiwanese machine tool industry.- 7.3 Government policy.- 7.4 The diffusion of CNC lathes in Taiwan.- 7.5 The firms producing CNC lathes.- 7.6 Government policy in the machine tool field.- 7.6.1 Tariff policy.- 7.6.2 Provision of risk capital.- 7.6.3 The Export-Import Bank.- 7.6.4 R&D on automation.- 7.6.5 China External Trade Development Council.- 7.7 Evaluating the explicit governmental policy.- 7.7.1 Tariffs.- 7.7.2 The Export-Import Bank.- 7.7.3 Risk capital.- 7.7.4 R&D on automation.- 7.8 Summary and conclusions.- Note.- 8 The Case of Korea.- 8.1 Growth and structure of the engineering industry.- 8.2 The Korean machine tool industry.- 8.3 Government policy.- 8.3.1 The machine tool industry.- 8.4 The Korean market for CNC lathes.- 8.5 The firms producing CNC lathes.- 8.6 Evaluating governmental policy.- 8.7 Summary and conclusions.- Notes.- 9 Government Policy.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Survey of the main arguments.- 9.2.1 The infant industry argument.- 9.2.2 General versus selective state intervention.- 9.2.3 The choice of policy instrument.- 9.3 Government policy and industry performance in Argentina, Korea and Taiwan.- 9.3.1 The benefits and costs of fostering the machine tool industry in the three NICs.- 9.3.2 Implications for government policy.- 9.4 Industry performance and implications for government policy in small developed countries.- 9.4.1 The European industry.- 9.4.2 Sweden and the UK.- 9.5 Conclusions.- Notes.- 10 Summary.- 10.1 The diffusion of CNC lathes.- 10.2 The international CNC lathe producing industry.- 10.3 The NIC experience.- 10.4 Government policies.- References.