Small Sub-Saharan African countries are facing difficult times trying to accelerate their economic growth while at the same time attempting to liberalize their economies. For many, independence has brought political freedom without concomitant economic and social improvement for their indigenous populations. Zimbabwe fits this description and while it has made significant strides in educating its populations and distributing some agricultural land, it still lags in modernizing its manufacturing industries which survived for many years with little or no capital investment and restricted access to imports. This study, based on a detailed analysis of the results of a survey of manufacturing firms in selected industries, shows the origin of the technologies they have mastered, the use made of external and domestic sources of technology, the skills being applied, their training and other needs, as well as the policies that could favourably affect future industrial development in Zimbabwe.

Autorentext

SIMON TEITEL is an international economic consultant having worked for the World Bank, United Nations and other organizations. He was previously Senior Research Advisor at the Inter-American Development Bank. He is the author of nine other books, including Resources, Industrialization and Exports in Latin America, Technology and Enterprise Development: Ghana Under Structural Adjustment, Industrial and Technological Development, Towards a New Development Strategy for Latin America and Trade, Stability, Technology and Equity in Latin America and some fifty articles on economic development, international trade and science and technology.

Inhalt

Preface Acknowledgements PART I: COUNTRY AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BACKGROUND Country Background Manufacturing Industry Education, Science and Technology PART II: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY Conceptualization of Technology Methodology PART III: ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF TECHNOLOGY Acquisition of Technology Plant Technical Operating Capabilities Technological Functions and their Organization PART IV: TECHNICAL CHANGE, SKILLS, AND FIRM PERFORMANCE Planned Technical Change Skills and Technological Capability PART V: CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY INTERVENTIONS Conclusions Policy Interventions Bibliography Appendices Index