Final answer:
The rate of technology diffusion has indeed been increasing over the last two decades, benefiting various sectors and contributing to economic growth and a reduction in poverty, although true global technological equality remains a distant goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the rate of technology diffusion has been steadily increasing over the last two decades is true. Technological diffusion, which is the spread of technology across borders, has indeed seen a rapid improvement in this period. Advancements such as the wireless internet, mobile banking, and information sharing have not only proliferated but also positively impacted economic growth and reduced absolute poverty in peripheral and semi-peripheral nations.
Recent technological innovations have benefitted even the most rural and traditionally low-tech sectors, spurring competition and lowering prices. While there are ongoing challenges in achieving true technological global equality, and the opportunity tends to cluster in geographically advantaged regions, the distribution of technology to wider areas across the globe has been a notable trend. This expanding reach of technology is exemplified by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issuing more than 150,000 patents annually in recent years.