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How Technological Change Impact Upon Economic Growth

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How Technological Change Impact Upon Economic Growth
How technological change impact upon economic growth

There have been dramatic changes in global economics in the last two decades through the flow of trade, foreign investment and of course technology, with a major rise in the manufacture and spread of information and communications technologies (ICT). For the course of this paper, ICT, a general purpose technology will be used to include in broad terms, computers – software and hardware, telecommunications, satellite communications, email and internet. Development in ICT has been a major contributory factor to the growth of productivity and economy in the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). Productivity is linked with both the ICT producing (manufacturers) and using (service) sectors. The rates to which countries adopt, use and invest in ICT differ. Some were quick to exploit the many benefits of using ICT while others saw it as a passing fad and so were slow to react to it. D’ Costa, A (2006) writes that a ‘new economy’ emerges when sectoral developments and structural changes are combined with ICT and services. This leads to a knowledge-based information society, which is relative to competitiveness and growth. The end of the 20th century sees countries in the European Union and the United States leading the ‘new economy’ The OECD has reported that there will be continuous and sustained long term growth in the ICT sector because developments of new services and products will drive demand for them higher.

This paper will examine the effects of CT and technological changes on the economic growth of the European Union and the United States.
An Overview of the ICT industry in Europe and the United State
Information and Communication Technologies are now means for firms to achieve competitive advantage over their peers. Developments within industries such as farming, education, manufacturing, banking, entertainment, etc. means that ICT is now used widely both in the private and public sectors.



References: Bassanini, A. and Scarpetta, S. (2002). 'Growth, Technological Change, and ICT diffusion: Recent Evidence from OECD Countries ', Oxford Review of Economic Policy, vol Becchetti, L. and Adriani, F. (2005). 'Does the Digital Divide Matter? the Role of Information and Communication Technology in Cross-Country Level and Growth Estimates ', Economics of Innovation and New Technology, vol Dedrick, J., Gurbaxani, V. and Kraemer, K. L. (2003). 'Information Technology and Economic Performance: a Critical Review of the Empirical Evidence ', ACM Computing Services, vol Gordon, R. J. (2000). 'Does the New Economy Measure up to the Great Inventions of the Past? ', Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol Gust, C. and Marquez (2004) 'International Comparisons of productivity Growth: The Role of Information Technology and Regulatory Practices ', Labour Economics, 11, 33-58. Jorgenson, D. W and Stiroh, K. J. (2000). 'Raising the Speed Limit: U.S. Economic Growth in the Information Age ', Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, vol. 1, 125–211. Kenny, C., ‘The Internet and Economic Growth in LDCs: a case of Managing Expectations? The New Economy in Development Lyon, D, ‘The Roots of the Information Society’, Information Technology Society, Sage UK, 1995 Meleki, R. & Moriset, B. ‘The Digital Economy – Business Organizations, Production Process and Regional Development’, Routledge, 2008 Mercour , V O’Mahony, M. and Vecchi, M. (2005). 'Quantifying the Impact of ICT Capital on Output Growth: A Heterogeneous Dynamic Panel Approach ', Economica, vol. 72, 615–33. Oulton, N. and Srinivasan, S. (2005). 'Productivity Growth and the Role of ICT in the United Kingdom: an Industry View, 1970-2000 ', CEP Discussion Paper No. 681, London.

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