PATTERNS OF DIFFUSION OF ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGIES - AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE ITALIAN CASE

The paper analyzes the patterns of diffusion of information- and microelectronics-based production technologies in Western Europe, USA and Japan. The evidence suggests asymmetries in both levels and rates of changes in their adoptions between the three areas and within Europe itself, with little support to any hypothesis of long-term convergence among these regional and national patterns. Some suggestions on why diffusion rates differ are then examined together with the likely consequences on the patterns of competitiveness.