How does Ricardian specialisation affect economic development in relatively advanced countries? Keld Laursen, inspired by the myriad newly-emergent neoclassical/new industrial economics contributions, makes a detailed study of the role of specialisation and structural change in advanced economies. Until now, these theoretical contributions have not been subjected to a systematic empirical investigation. The three key questions are: * Do countries converge or diverge in terms of their specialisation patterns over time? * Can the role of technology explain the direction of national trade specialisation? * What are the implications of international specialisation patterns (and their changes) for economic growth? This study will be of immense interest to postgraduates and researchers working on theories and practices of innovation, trade, and growth.