Development and Use of Gender-specific Technologies: Evidence from China, Poland, and Sweden

This article investigates the gender aspects of technology use in the innovation system. The generic question is: to what extent is it necessary to distinguish between women and men in the use of technology? A second question is: if gender-specific differences do exist, to what extent is the innovation system capable of utilizing experiences from women as well? The article examines two sets of technologies-agricultural equipment for rural application and teleservices-in two transition economies, Poland and China, with Sweden as a point of reference. The empirical data presented here on women as innovators and users of technology indicate that, indeed, there exist differences in preferences between genders, and that the innovation systems have been slow or incapable of exploiting these differences with a consequent welfare loss to society. The underperformance of the innovation system could provide firms with a competitive advantage if they are willing to tap into its potential.