Network Analysis of Eight Technological Systems

This paper aims to measure and compare some key relationships relative to the technological systems of eight OECD countries along three temporal spans (early 1980s, middle 1980s, early 1990s). For each technological system, a matrix of intersectoral innovation flows is constructed and network analysis is then performed to examine the density distributions of the innovative flows, and the degree of centrality/centralisation of each of its nodes.The first kind of analysis allows a quantitative comparison of the intensity of the linkages among the systemic nodes considered, while the second allows us to examine qualitatively the different internal structures identified by cutting-off flows of a certain magnitude. The main results of the paper are a clear distinction among technological systems with different structural characteristics (e.g. size, technological intensity, and institutional arrangements suggesting the existence of different 'models of capitalism'), and a clear pattern of 'convergence' among the technological systems along time.