otherwise limited. In areas of high technology such as informatics, many European Governments -e.g. the European Economic Community with its ESPRIT (European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology) programme are implementing schemes of R + D and application in an attempt to compete with Japan and _the United States. 13. In general, the competition between OECD countries in high-technology industries makes it unlikely that developing countries will be able to find niches and opportunities in this field without efforts far greater than those being made at the moment. The aims and programmes of OECD Governments have to be seen in conjunction with plans being implemented by the private enterprises of these countries. It is becoming more and more difficult for developing countries to catch up with the accelerating pace of technological change and the levels of investment required at each stage. The decreasing length of product cycles gives more and more value to technological information, thus further inhibiting technological diffusion. 14. International industrial restructuring has been clearly affected by the macro-economic policies pursued by developed countries in 1984. The combination of policies which maintained the high value of the United States dollar, for example, had significant effects on the OECD countries themselves as well as upon developing countries. TI1e value of the dollar in relation to other currencies made foreign products, including manufactures, more competitive in the United States market, and the growth · of exports to the United States provided stimulus to industrial product ion in both developed and developing countries. At the same time, increased import penetration of United States markets may result in further protectionism, and already a number of measures to bring about trade restraints and import barriers have been introduced in both traditional and new imports, affecting such areas as 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the challenges faced by developing countries in keeping up with technological advancements and the impact of international economic policies on their industries. It highlights the competition between OECD countries and the increasing difficulty for developing countries to catch up. The text also touches on the effects of international industrial restructuring and trade policies on developing countries.

**Category**
Industry, International trade