Contenu du sommaire : Transferts de connaissance, libéralisation et développement

NATURE, MODALITIES AND ETHICS OF THE TRANSFERS OF KNOWLEDGE : ESSAY OF TYPOLOGY
The establishment of a typology of knowledge transfers highlights main dimensions of this process : the sources of transfers and recipients ; the nature and modalities of knowledge, factual or procedural ; the constraints weighing on the actors ; use of channels of transmission and formalization of knowledge. This article shows how transfers of knowledge raise ethical problems in the field of the diffusion of new knowledge and in that of education, which force the authorities to intervene, in particular through the patents system and by ensuring free access to education. The rules and institutions are analysed in reference to the criteria of an ethical nature proposed by utilitarianism, libertarism and liberal egalitarianism.

THE LEARNING CAPABILITY
Amartya Sen proposes to bring closer the capability theory and the human capital theory. The examination of this bringing together shows the fertility of the capability approach for the theories of education. This approach allows a refinement of the human capital theory. In many countries, the restrictions on the social mobility can be significant. This will result in a more or less large fall of the output of the human capital. The introduction of the evaluation of the levels of freedom of choice by the capability theory makes it possible to better differentiate the situations from each country, and to advance suitable solutions.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFERS AND CAPITAL CONSTRAINT
In a first part, the evolution of the combination of productive factors in developed countries is analyzed till the present stage called “ the economy of capital and knowledge ”. In a second part, the possibility for the developing countries to develop without large amounts of capital through technological “ short-circuits ” is spécified (e.g. the sector of telecommunications).The main issue of the last part is an evaluation of a long time policy of developed countries : if they lend money at a low cost to the developing countries today, they could get a high pay-back tomorrow and after tomorrow.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND “ DUTCH DISEASE INTELLECTUEL ” : THE POST GRADUATE INTERAFRICAN COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMME IN ECONOMICS IN THE FRANCOPHONE AREA (PTCI-ECONOMIE)
The “ Programme de Troisième Cycle Interafricain (PTCI) ”, a post graduate interafrican collaborative programme in Economics is a reference for the capacity building in the African Academic area. But it is only one among many national and regional programmes. The consequence of the demand for expertise is a diversion of the capacities of the Academic world to consulting and expertise, i.e the same paradoxe as the Dutch Disease that we refer to as the “ Intellectual Dutch Disease ”. The second phase of the PTCI, and in particular its Doctoral programme, tries to integrate this constraint by reinforcing the scientific and managerial capacities of African research centres.

LIBERALISATION AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN POOR COUNTRIES ARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES GUILTY ?
Are intellectual property rights and pharmaceuticals companies really guilty for the problem of access to medicines in poor countries ? A review of the literature shows that the issue is complex and must take account of the different causes and actors involved in the access to health care. We then examine how firms seem to be more and more involved in the “new” international strategies for the health improvement. From this we conclude on the necessity to clarify the objectives of the firms when building partnerships with poor countries.

NATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS IN EAST EUROPEAN TRANSITION ECONOMIES Eastern Europe economies enjoyed in the past a rather important level of scientific and technological activity. This level is declining because of the scarcity of financial resources, but there still are capacities even if they are ill organised and directed. In this context there is room for large improvement by the mean of technology transfers. However the results can by no mean be considered as satisfactory. The paper reviews the situation of three countries, Croatia, Hungary and Poland with respect to the transfers of technology and points the many factors limiting their extent and their efficiency.

ACTIVITY AND ACCUMULATION IN SMALL ENTERPRISES : THE CASE OF THEPHONEHOUSES IN NOUAKCHOTT
After a long period of state control of the telecommunication market, one has seen its opening, which has led to a multiplication of phone houses in Nouakchott. The management of these companies associates, with important elements of rationality, other more problematic behavior. Two sample surveys, in a span of six years show that the quantitative accumulation of capital in this domain is both real and modest ; the same can be said of the qualitative accumulation in the form of qualification level of the manager and the employees of the phone houses. This weak dynamics of the accumulation results at the same moment from a very lively competition and the development of a new and particularly competitive form of telecomunication