Structural and technology characteristics of the czech economy

Paper presents group of indicators highlighting qualitative (structural and technology) characteristics of transition economies, EU-candidates, within the framework of their economic performance. More detailed overview is presented for group of OECD-member transition countries for evaluation of their capacity of knowledge creation and diffusion. The comparisons were made to EU levels, more specifically to their maximum and minimum values. The indicators point to efficiency differences in factor utilization (labour force and particularly research and development inputs). Comparisons with Hungary highlight mostly unfavorable trends in the Czech Republic which may be reversed by foreign investment inflows in recent years. Due to lower level of research and development in higher education and lower share of workers with tertiary education attainment, insufficient development of absorption capacity may freeze the economy in the trap of equilibrium with low skills and low productivity.

Keywords: economic growth, transition economies, technology change