This paper propounds that strategic indicators for less developed countries should take into consideration the specificities of these countries, hence should not just replicate the indicators used by the OECD. With this purpose, it uses a new conceptual framework stressing the importance of a balance between economic efficiency and social welfare. It lists several sensible reasons to develop strategic indicators, shows how each of them is based on assumptions that are not necessarily valid to all countries, and shows why a new conceptual approach is needed. Then, after discussing the main features of the proposed model, it shows how the new framework can help identifying the kinds of new indicators needed. Finally, the paper suggests how the approach could also be useful to a project trying to evaluate scientific publications.
Science and technology indicators
