Link education to industrial upgrading: a comparison between South Korea and China

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaoling He

Purpose – Why is the “education to industrial innovation” equation not working in China? Why has education development contributed to South Korea’s success but not promoted technology development and industrial upgrading in China? The purpose of this paper is to compare South Korea and China and try to address that puzzle. The author will also identify which mediating factors are crucial in linking education development to industrial innovation and industrial upgrading. Design/methodology/approach – This study will use the historical comparative method to compare South Korea and China. The author will try to explore the differences in education and industrial upgrading in the two countries, and identify which factors are producing different educational development effects, mainly by narrative comparison. Data will mainly come from online databases such as Statistics Korea, the Center on International Education Benchmarking, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, China Education Statistics and the World Bank, as well as from second-hand resources. Findings – In summary, this research has revealed that education itself or the production of human capital may not be sufficient conditions for technology innovation or industry upgrading. For human capital to affect industrial upgrading positively, it is not enough for the Chinese government just to invest in education. Other intermediating market and social contexts are crucial too, especially the allocation of resources between the private and the public sectors, and the existence of a proper employment structure. Originality/value – The role of education in economic development for the developing world is debated a lot. However, there is little development study research which directly explores the relationship between education and industrial upgrading via macroeconomic analysis. In a globalized world, the situation of international industrial value chains is an important element for sustainable long-term development. Industrial structures and their transformation are becoming more and more important for developing countries. While most past research has treated the absorbing economy’s structure as a condition that determines education’s contribution to development, this paper will treat the industrial structure as the dependent variable, and analyze how education would contribute to the upgrading of industrial structure and, in turn, be of benefit to sustainable economic development.

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhong Wang ◽  
Lu Xing ◽  
Hanxue Chen

Purpose Recently, China has been paying increasing attention to how to improve the efficiency of the marine environment and realize a green and sustainable development of the marine economy. Consequently, the industrial structure is crucial to improving efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to introduce environmental factors into the efficiency analysis framework and explore the relationship between marine industrial structure and marine environmental efficiency. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses marine economic data under the DEA-BBC model to measure the marine environmental efficiency of provinces and cities and classifies them by cluster analysis. Then, the marine industrial structure and marine environmental efficiency are studied by an econometric model with human capital, ownership structure, land economic development level, scientific research input and government intervention degree as control variables. Findings The overall level of marine environmental efficiency is relatively low in China, increasing and then decreasing over the research period. The rationalization of industrial structure and scientific research input have significant promoting effects on marine environmental efficiency, while the degree of government intervention has a significant inhibiting effect. The positive effect of human capital on efficiency depends on whether it can be successfully converted into productivity. The effects of industrial structure advancement, ownership structure and land economic development level of on the marine environmental efficiency are mixed. Originality/value The results provide a theoretical and decision-making basis for China to transform and upgrade its marine industrial structure and sustainably develop the marine economy.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania El Kallab ◽  
Cristina Terra

PurposeThis paper explores the role of colonial heritage on long-term economic development from a resource-curse perspective. The authors investigate the impact of colonial exports on long-term economic development through two channels: (1) a direct impact of the economic dependency on natural resources and (2) an indirect impact via its effect on colonial institutions, which persisted over time and influenced current economic development.Design/methodology/approachTo address this issue, the authors use an original data set on French bilateral trade from 1880 to 1912. The authors use partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in the empirical analysis, so that the authors are able to construct latent variables (LVs) for variables that are not directly observable, such as the quality of institutions.FindingsThe authors find that exports of primary goods to France had a negative impact on colonial institutions and that for French colonies, this impact was driven by minerals exports. Despite its impact on colonial institutions, exports of French colonies had no significant indirect impact on their current institutions. The authors find no significant direct impact of colonial trade on current development for French colonies. Finally, colonial exports of manufactured products had no significant impact on colonial institutions among French colonies and a positive impact among non-French ones.Research limitations/implicationsResearch implications regarding the findings of this paper are, namely, that the relative poor performance within French colonies today cannot be attributed to the extraction of raw materials a century ago. However, human capital and institutional development, instead of exports, are more relatively important for long-term growth. Some limitations in trying to determine the simultaneous relationship among colonial trade, institutions and economic performance are the relation between colonial trade and the extent of extraction from the colonizer, which is hard to quantify, as well as its precise mechanism.Practical implicationsSince the initial institutions set in those former colonies presented a strong persistence in the long run, their governments should focus now on building sound and inclusive political and economic institutions, as well as on investing in human capital in order to foster long-term growth. Once a comprehensive set of institutional and human resources are put in place, the quality and quantity of exports might create a positive spillover on the short-run growth.Social implicationsOne social implication that can be retrieved from this study is the ever-lasting effect of both human capital investment and introduction of inclusive political and economic institutions on the long-run impact of growth.Originality/valueThe paper uses an original primary data set from archival sources to explore the role of colonial heritage on long-term economic development from a resource-curse perspective. It applies a relatively new model partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) that allows the construction of LVs for variables that are not directly observable, as well as channeling the impact on growth through both direct and indirect channels. Finally, it allows for the simultaneous multigroup analysis across different colonial groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
Siu-kai Lau

Purpose The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Strategy is an important component of the “Belt and Road Initiative” of China. The purpose of this Project is to develop the GBA into the most open, market-oriented and innovative pole of economic growth in China. The GBA Project provides Hong Kong with a rare opportunity to diversify its industrial structure and to move into a new and higher stage of economic development. Design/methodology/approach Being an integral part of the GBA, Hong Kong is expected and supported by the Central Government to develop into a hub of the Area, and, leveraging on Hong Kong’s status as an international metropolis, to connect the Area as a whole with the world. Findings China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Project is a major national development strategy and is a major part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong is going to play an important role in the Project and will benefit from it enormously in the future in terms of economic growth and the upgrading of its industrial structure. However, in order to take full advantage of participation in the Project, the way Hong Kong is governed, particularly the government's role in economic development, has to be modified significantly. Originality/value In order to take advantage of the Project, the Hong Kong SAR Government has to play a bigger and more proactive role in Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development and to strengthen its capacity to mobilize societal participation in the Project.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Dinh Tho ◽  
Nguyen Dong Phong ◽  
Tran Ha Minh Quan ◽  
Nguyen Thi Mai Trang

Purpose Positing that human capital resources of marketers comprise both psychological capital (PsyCap) and marketing capital (MarCap), and that PsyCap in combination with MarCap will have a synergistic effect on marketers’ job performance, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the configurational roles of PsyCap and MarCap in marketers’ job performance. Design/methodology/approach Using a survey data set collected from 472 marketers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the study tested the net effects of PsyCap and MarCap on job performance using structural equation modeling (SEM). Then, the study investigated the configurational roles of PsyCap and MarCap in job performance employing the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Findings SEM results show that two components of PsyCap (efficacy and optimism) and one component of MarCap (organizational MarCap) have positive effects on job performance. fsQCA findings reveal that, except hope, combinations of PsyCap and MarCap components form several sufficient conditions for job performance. Research limitations/implications The focus of this study is on marketers, that is, at the individual level. Future research should examine both PsyCap and MarCap at a higher level, such as the team, unit, or firm level. Practical implications The study’s findings suggest that firms should pay attention not only to the net effect but also to the configuration of PsyCap and MarCap when designing and implementing their human resource strategies and policies. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on human capital resources by confirming the configurational roles of PsyCap and MarCap in marketers’ job performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assel Shaimerdenova ◽  
Jean-Claude Garcia-Zamor

This research paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis of human capital in Kazakhstan and South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. In 1997 the president of Kazakhstan announced in his "Program for Strategic Development of Kazakhstan until 2030" that the country by 2030 will be one of the developed countries in the world such as the “Asian Tigers” - South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. Thus, the research paper seeks to determine the level of economic development and human capital of Kazakhstan compared with those countries. The paper discusses the situation in South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia in order to find directions for economic improvements in Kazakhstan through developing human capital.  After reviewing the education development of Korea, Singapore and Malaysia and the state of the economy and education in Kazakhstan, it concluded that it is crucial for Kazakhstan to develop its human capital in order to turn the country into a diversified, highly productive economy and to reach its goal of joining the top-30 developed countries in the world.


2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-728
Author(s):  
Hyung-Gu Lynn

Ronald Dore's 1977 article in Pacific Affairs, "South Korean Development in Wider Perspective," is a rare example of the scholar known for his writings on Japan applying his analytical lens on South Korea. What were some of this article's most notable areas of foresight and elision related to development studies? This essay answers this question by interpreting connections to publications before and after 1977 to analyze areas of insight under the rubric of "discernment" and overlooked subjects under "death." On one hand, Dore's essay was ahead of the curve in its deft foreshadowing of post-developmentalist, varieties of capitalism, and developmental state approaches to economic development. On the other, Dore sidestepped the effects of death on economic development in three forms: literal— effects of changing mortality rates on investments in education and human capital; industries related to death—wars, munitions production and arms expenditures; and the aftereffects of the death of a scholar—the revisiting and renewal of debates that can sometimes emerge as a result.


Author(s):  
Seyed Kazem Sadr

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide explanation for the economic development of the earliest Islamic state. It focuses on the role of human capital as the most important element of this model and focuses on four dimensions of development of human personality in Islam: the incentive structure, rules of behavior, institutions and policies. Design/methodology/approach – A review and analysis of the measures and policies that Prophet of Islam and his successors adopted are made to arrive at the underlying economic model of development. Findings – The major finding is the role of human capital in the development of the economy at that time. Originality/value – The contribution of the paper is to identify the critical role of education and skills for the development of the economy at present.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidong Yang

Purpose – This paper aims to review the state-owned enterprise (SOE) reform in China and analyzes the role of the Chinese Government in the progress of the SOE reform. It provides suggestions to better guide the direction of further reforms of the SOEs in China. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews the historical path of the SOE reform in China and analyzes the underline policy implication associated with the reform. Findings – The success of the function-oriented SOE reform depends on the transformation of governmental functions. Only with the linkage of governmental functions reform can we change the existing pattern of economic development, build a solid foundation for the socialist market economy and achieve the final triumph. Originality/value – This paper provides suggestions to better guide the direction of further reforms of the SOEs in China.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis E Raymond

Does economic justice stymie economic development? This paper demonstrates that sustainability is compatible with Rawlsian intertemporal justice, even when considering human capital and natural resources. The methodology employed herein extends and amends previous works that (1) do not consider human capital or renewable resources, and (2) rely upon the application of standard Lagrangian methodology to a continuum of nonlinear constraints. This approach circumvents problems associated with earlier works by internalizing constraints and demonstrating two sufficient conditions which guarantee existence of a Rawlsian maximin path.


Author(s):  
Mengying Wang ◽  
Stuart Gilmour ◽  
Chunhai Tao ◽  
Kaixuan Zhuang

Macro-economic development of China’s health industry is essential to the sustainable development and growth momentum of the national economy. Strategies to promote the development and rebalancing of the industrial structure need to be improved in order to transform China’s health industry and drive development. Based on panel data of 25 regions in China from 2004 to 2016, this paper analyzes the linear and non-linear relationship between Chinese government health expenditure (GHE), GHE efficiency, and the macro-economic development of the health industry. It uses a novel index of industrial structure to measure the transformation of industrial sectors in China, based on a semi-parametric generalized additive model. The model shows that per capita GHE and its efficiency have a significant positive linear and comprehensive non-linear effect on the development of health industry structure. By analyzing the interaction of GHE and its efficiency, we show that high expenditure with low-efficiency regimes and high expenditure with high-efficiency regimes have a positive impact on the development of industrial structure. Following the empirical results, the paper puts forward corresponding policy suggestions for the role of fiscal policy in promoting the development of the health industry in China.


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