An organic electronic device functioning as a flat EL display panel is provided by forming an organic EL element and a nonlinear device as a drive means for controlling a current supplied to the EL device on a common substrate. The nonlinear device has a structure including a first organic layer and a second organic layer each comprising an organic material, and at least one metal layer principally comprising a metal element and sandwiched between the first and second organic layers so as to flow at least a part of current through the metal layer between the first and second organic layers sandwiching the metal layer. The nonlinear device having a function comparable to a conventional organic transistor or diode can be formed by using not a special organic material having a remarkably high mobility but an organic material selected from a broader class of materials.