Technological change in the German Democratic Republic

Focusing on East Germany's capacity to innovate and diffuse technology, this book sheds light on the technological gap that has developed between the two Germanies. Dr. Bentley compares the sophistication of GDR and FRG technology in different industrial branches, evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the GDR's research and development system, compares the R&D effort of the two Germanies, and discusses the government policies that affected technological change in GDR industry from 1945 to 1975. He identifies and analyzes hindrances to research, innovation, and diffusion in the fields of planning, organization, economic stimulation, and ideology, and looks at the formation of interest groups. He also compares evidence from the GDR with data from other countries, including the USSR.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Tables -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- 1 INTRODUCTION -- The Economic and Political Background -- Data, Methods and Limitations -- The Organisation of the Book -- Notes -- 2 THE TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND -- The Quantitative Appraisal of GDR Technology -- The Machine and Vehicle Building Industry -- The Electrotechnical, Electronics and Instrument Building Industry -- The Chemical Industry -- Summary -- Notes -- 3 THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORT -- Distribution of Industrial R& -- D Manpower by Type of Establishment -- Facilities for Industrial R& -- D -- Time Spent on R& -- D -- Employment and Qualification Structure of Industrial R& -- D Manpower -- The Scale and Direction of the Industrial R& -- D Effort -- Notes -- 4 THE SYSTEM OF DETAILED CENTRAL PLANNING, 1945-1962 -- Central Planning of the Economy, Research and Technology -- Optimism, Opposition and Schematism -- Bureaucracy -- Project Selection -- Plan Coordination -- The Enterprise Bonus System -- Prices -- Pressures for Technological Change -- Notes -- 5 THE NEW ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND ITS SUCCESSOR, 1963-1975 -- Bureaucracy and Plan Coordination -- Project Selection -- Prices -- The Enterprise Bonus System -- Notes -- 6 THE OFFENSIVE STRATEGY FOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, 1967/68-1971 -- Prioities for Technological Change -- Concentration in Industry -- The Strategy as a Whole -- Notes -- 7 THE EFFORT TO LINK ACADEMIC SCIENCE WITH INDUSTRY, 1945-1975 -- Policy Measures -- Academic Research Manpower and Facilities -- Communication Channels between Academic Science and Industry -- The Offensive Strategy -- Notes -- 8 CONCLUSION -- The GDR's Technological Lag behind the FRG -- The GDR's Technological Lead over the USSR -- Reflections towards a Model of Technologycal Change in the GDR -- Notes.