Innovation and Productivity in Eastern Europe: An International Comparison
Author(s)
Ray, George F.
Abstract
The aim of the study was to approach an assessment of the technological level of the economies in Eastern Europe, particularly in the newly-democratising countries-Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland–by means of studying their innovative activity and productivity levels in comparison with the West. After setting the scene with a few macroeconomic indicators a set of productivity comparisons will be discussed, followed by study of the adoption of selected major postwar innovations and their diffusion in the Eastern countries, their performance in ‘high technology’ areas, certain aspects of their energy economics, as well as the international patenting activity of these countries.