The impact of science, technology and industrial policies on economic performance in Portugal after accession to the EU: a contribution to its explanation

Abstract

An exploratory assessment of the impact of Science, Technology and Industrial Policies on the economic fabric of Portugal is made. The main policy developments and mechanisms since accession to EU and the evolution of the economic and S&T system during that same period are briefly described. Several indicators of economic development, including productivity levels, composition of exports, among others, are used to assess the changes that occurred during the period. It is argued that the trajectory followed since accession to the EU of the Portuguese economy is, on the one hand, closely related to the strategic options and the investment priorities of the large national programmes co-financed by the EU that have been in place since 1989, and on the other hand, related with the production strategy and endogenous capabilities of the economic agents. Namely, there seems to be a close relation between the industrial modernization priorities of the programmes and the relative performance of the low technology sectors. A relation between the programmes on advanced training of human resources and the performance of the high technology sectors is also suggested.