Conclusions

This volume has been organized around the notion of a technological system, and more specifically the distinction between modern and traditional technological systems. In our treatment of the subject we have been able to find a way of identifying distinct systems of technology in a multisectoral model of the economy. This approach has also allowed us to quantify certain aspects of different technological systems within a rigorous conceptual framework. As already noted in the introduction, the concept we have used has historical connections with the idea of modes of production — both pre-capitalist and capitalist. Our approach has been to identify different technology systems, study their characteristics and understand their sectoral and economy-wide impacts. We have argued that although technological systems are rooted in these different historical periods they can nonetheless still be identified as distinctive entities in the context of contemporary developing countries.