Accumulation and the transfer of technology: issues of conflict and mechanisms for the exercise of control

Abstract

The transfer of technology from developed to underdeveloped economies is almost always associated with a conflict of interests between the supplier and the recipient of technology. Where this conflict arises control is exerted by the more powerful party to ensure that the conflict is settled in its favour. It is argued in this paper that control is allied to the power to determine the rate and type of accumulation of capital. A number of potential areas of conflict are discussed, and this is followed by a discussion of the mechanisms which the various parties can use to settle conflict in their favour.