Libro Blanco Vol I en Ingles
Libro Blanco Vol I en Ingles
Libro Blanco Vol I en Ingles
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
TOWARDS A NATIONAL INNOVATION STRATEGY FOR COMPETITIVENESSVOLUME 12.3 THE DELICATE ROLE OF THE STATEWhat precise role the State must play in the economy and in society continues to be an op<strong>en</strong> and activedebate in Chile and around the world, driv<strong>en</strong> by two oft<strong>en</strong> irreconcilable positions. On the one hand there arethose who think that the market will solve everything, and on the other hand, those who view the State as theinfallible solution.However, in the last 50 years, economic sci<strong>en</strong>ce has explained why and under what conditions marketswork and wh<strong>en</strong> they do not. It has provided convincing evid<strong>en</strong>ce that, once the roles of each are defined, theState can and should exercise a necessary complem<strong>en</strong>tary role to correct the allocation of resources and thedynamization of growth. This does not mean forgetting, however, the theories and evid<strong>en</strong>ce that refer to thefailures of the State – lack of coordination or the certain possibility that it be captured by private interestgroups – and with it the possibility that a failed public interv<strong>en</strong>tion will damage more so than the lags it seeks torepair.Clearly, since there are is always information or imperfect markets, there is room for the effici<strong>en</strong>cy ofthe interv<strong>en</strong>tion of the State to improve. However, giv<strong>en</strong> the failures of both, they must act jointly, as partners,with the exact nature of the association being differ<strong>en</strong>t dep<strong>en</strong>ding on the country, on its level of political andeconomic developm<strong>en</strong>t 72 and its culture.In this framework, the market and system failures not only justify but also obligate the State to foster andfacilitate the innovation process and help in the construction of assets that support it. This occurs because,while a significant part of innovation takes place at a private level, the governm<strong>en</strong>t plays a significant roleregarding the conditions in which innovation activity is undertak<strong>en</strong>. As indicated in the February report, thisimplies, among other tasks, providing an adequate infrastructure for the system to operate, defining theinstitutional framework for transactions to occur quickly and effici<strong>en</strong>tly, facilitating the construction ofnetworks and articulation among ag<strong>en</strong>ts and, in g<strong>en</strong>eral, <strong>en</strong>sure the necessary coordination for the system as awhole to function coher<strong>en</strong>tly.Thus understood, the creation of institutions that assure the national articulation of the innovation<strong>en</strong>deavour is a task in which the State plays a key role, making the s<strong>en</strong>se of the technological <strong>en</strong>deavour, itspertin<strong>en</strong>ce, coordination, goals and evaluation mechanisms explicit. This not only provides s<strong>en</strong>se to the work ofWhile it is true that much of innovationis carried out privately, the governm<strong>en</strong>tshould provide the appropriateinfrastructure for the system to operateand the institutionality for transactionsto occur quickly and effici<strong>en</strong>tly, tofacilitate the construction of networksand the articulation betwe<strong>en</strong> actorsand, in g<strong>en</strong>eral, to <strong>en</strong>sure the necessarycoordination for the system to functioncoher<strong>en</strong>tly.Since there is imperfect information ormarkets, there is room for Stateinterv<strong>en</strong>tion to increase the effici<strong>en</strong>cy ofmarkets. Giv<strong>en</strong> the failures of the marketand the State, both must act jointly,respecting their corresponding spheres.72 Op. Cit.88