1. Jukka Pekkarinen Technology frontier: A comment ”Quality of tertiary education and the economic policy agenda”, Ljubljana, April 2, 2008

2. April 2, 2008 2 Technology frontier  Lies behind our discussion of tertiary education today  One of the central concepts in modern growth theory

3. April 2, 2008 3 Where to look for the frontier?  Country level?  Local level (urban centres)?  European level?  Lisbon agenda?  Top universities?  Branch level?

4. April 2, 2008 4 The industries in which labour productivity is lower than in the US (year 2001, USA = 100) Finland’sThe best IndustryFINEU-14ranking in EUin EU Total manufacturing101814Ireland Scientific instruments961028France Insulated wire92784France Textiles91998Denmark Chemicals77817Ireland Aircraft and spacecraft77675Belgium Other instruments56473Denmark Radio and television receivers56706UK Leather and footwear548611Denmark Clothing39609Denmark Motor vehicles364311France Office machinery357511Austaria Electronic valves and tubes29427Ireland Railroad and transport equipment247012France

5. April 2, 2008 5 The industries in which labour productivity is higher than in the US (year 2001, US = 100) Finland’sThe best IndustryFINEU-14ranking in EUin EU Pulp, paper & paper products2131241Finland Printing & publishing1611435Ireland Wood & products of wood and cork1561011Finland Non-metallic mineral products1491608Netherlands Basic metals1431041Finland Telecommunication equipment127661Finland Rubber & plastics1261248Belgium Other electrical machinery and apparatus nec1251236Ireland Building and repairing of ships and boats124853France Food, drink & tobacco1221117Netherlands Mechanical engineering119 8Belgium Furniture, miscellaneous manufacturing;117953Denmark Fabricated metal products1161156Belgium Total manufacturing101814Ireland

6. April 2, 2008 6 Shares of manufacturing in the value added of all industries, 1979- 2001, %

7. April 2, 2008 7