ABSTRACT
Processing of food and agricultural products is relatively most important in Denmark, Greece, Ireland and Switzerland, all countries with substantial farming sectors. Electronics is the sector which typifies the new growth industries of the post-1945 period. To a large extent consumer electronics and microelectronics need to be considered separately, although recent technological changes are tending to integrate these. West Germany has a relatively open consumer electronics market, and companies such as AEG-Telefunken and Grundig have found it difficult to compete. In the 1980s southern Europe has attracted investment in microelectronics. Governments do play an important role in microelectronics for it is considered a growth industry, has strong linkages with other industries, and has a crucial role in modern defence systems. In the 1970s the British Government followed a more positive strategy through the National Enterprise Board. This provided capital for small electronics companies, set up NEXOS to manufacture advanced office systems.
