Question: Some earlier development economists, like Alexander Gerschenkron, thought "latedevelopers" would have an advantage compared to early developers in increasing their levels of per capita income since they would be able to use the most advanced technology without having to re-invent such knowledge themselves.
a. Under what conditions would such an optimistic perspective on "international technological diffusion" have validity for a late-developing economy?
b. What role does government policy play in creating these conditions and in augmenting an economy's initial endowments that might make technological acquisition and its use more productive for an economy?