Production Oriented Information Technology Policy in Japan and Europe

A key feature of international economic and industrial development over the last ten to fifteen years has been the rapid rise of Japan, some European countries, and a few rapidly industrializing developing countries such as Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, to be highly competitive in a widening range of products. This has been particularly marked in a number of high-technology and consumer goods industries where high quality, new and innovative products have captured an increasing share of world markets. These products have been based on rapid industrial innovation and introduction of new goods which consumers will buy, and on efficient, high quality manufacturing techniques.