An institutionalist approach to economic development: an emphasis on Brazilian Science, Technology and Innovation Policy from the 1990s
Name: DACIELI SAUSEN
Publication date: 15/06/2012
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ALEXANDRE OTTONI TEATINI SALLES | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ALEXANDRE OTTONI TEATINI SALLES | Advisor * |
| ROBSON ANTONIO GRASSI | Internal Examiner * |
Summary: The dissertation is a work of theoretical and applied nature which main subject is economic development in an institutionalist perspective. Specifically from the theoretical principles proposed by Original Institutionalist School, carried out by its pioneer, Thorstein Veblen, and his contemporaneous successors. Under this point of view, development is an endogenous learning process of institutional and technological changes. In this sense, institutions and technological progress are influenced and depend on human behavior and its interaction. Thus, the chapters two and three of the dissertation are considered to be a work of theoretical nature, focused on presenting the fundamental aspects of theoretical Veblenian approach and an institutionalist interpretation of economic development. To such purpose, it was used the contributions of Geoffrey Hodgson, Ha-Joon Chang and Richard Nelson. The actions of the agents, according to the Veblenian and post Veblenian conception, will make feasible economic progress once they are engaged to habits of the thought of the community. Based on the data from this theoretical analysis, specially the importance of the role of technology in the consolidation of an effective economic development program, chapter four was dedicated to analyze the way scientific, technological and innovative progress has been treated in Brazil since the 1990s. The purpose was to demonstrate that a policy strategy of C, T&I in Brazil will only happen if there is an effective changing in the mental habits of the agents. In other words is when a collective action of society prioritizes technological progress as a factor of social change and a leading element of economic progress in the country. Our main conclusion is that the effort in terms of investment and allocation of resources for the technological development section in recent years is not enough to build an effective policy of C,T&I in Brazil. Although there was recognition of technological progress as an essential factor for development, there are difficulties of integrating the actions of agents (government, institutions and private sector) in a way of changing habits that will provide economic progress to the country. Keywords: Economic Progress. Institutionalist Theory. Habits of Thought. Science Policy, Techonlogy and Inovation. Brazilian Economy.
