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Human capital, knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion, institutions and economic incentives: South Korea versus Africa

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  • Simplice A. Asongu
  • Vanessa S. Tchamyou

Abstract

This article compares African countries to South Korea in terms of knowledge economy (KE). Emphasis is laid on human capital, knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion, institutions and economic incentives. The analytical approach consists of providing KE catch-up strategies that can be understood within the context of country-specific gaps between the frontier country in KE and laggard African countries. The empirical evidence is based on sigma convergence with data for the period 1996–2010. Overall, a KE diagnosis is provided by assessing KE gaps (between South Korea and specific-African countries) and suggesting compelling catch-up strategies with which to reduce identified gaps. Contemporary and non-contemporary policies from South Korea and more contemporary policies based on challenges of globalisation are discussed. The policy relevance of this inquiry aligns with the scholarly perspective that catch-up between South Korea and more advanced economies was accelerated by the former adapting to and assimilating relatively obsolete technological know-how from more developed nations.

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  • Simplice A. Asongu & Vanessa S. Tchamyou, 2020. "Human capital, knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion, institutions and economic incentives: South Korea versus Africa," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 26-47, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocxx:v:15:y:2020:i:1:p:26-47
    DOI: 10.1080/21582041.2018.1457170
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    1. Vanessa Simen Tchamyou, 2020. "Education, lifelong learning, inequality and financial access: evidence from African countries," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 7-25, January.
    2. Asongu, Simplice A & Nwachukwu, Jacinta, 2016. "PhD by Publication as an Argument for Innovation and Technology Transfer: with Emphasis on Africa," MPRA Paper 75411, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    4. Simplice A. Asongu, 2017. "Knowledge Economy Gaps, Policy Syndromes, and Catch-Up Strategies: Fresh South Korean Lessons to Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 8(1), pages 211-253, March.
    5. Simplice A. Asongu & Jacinta C. Nwachukwu, 2016. "A Brief Future of Time in the Monopoly of Scientific Knowledge," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 58(4), pages 638-671, December.
    6. Simplice Asongu, 2015. "Financial Sector Competition and Knowledge Economy: Evidence from SSA and MENA Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 6(4), pages 717-748, December.
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    11. Simplice A. Asongu, 2013. "African Stock Market Performance Dynamics: A Multidimensional Convergence Assessment," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 186-201, December.
    12. Simplice Asongu, 2013. "Harmonizing IPRs on Software Piracy: Empirics of Trajectories in Africa," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 45-60, November.
    13. Simplice Asongu, 2014. "African Development: Beyond Income Convergence," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 82(3), pages 334-353, September.
    14. Giuseppe Bruno & Riccardo De Bonis, 2009. "Do financial systems converge? New evidence from household financial assets in selected OECD countries," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Proceedings of the IFC Conference on "Measuring financial innovation and its impact", Basel, 26-27 August 2008, volume 31, pages 383-401, Bank for International Settlements.
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    19. Simplice A. Asongu, 2014. "African financial development dynamics: big time convergence," African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 5(2), pages 160-194, July.
    20. Jellal, Mohamed & Bouzahzah, Mohamed, 2013. "Transparency and corruption: an optimal taxation policy," European Economic Letters, European Economics Letters Group, vol. 2(2), pages 66-70.
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    Cited by:

    1. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2019. "Challenges of Doing Business in Africa: A Systematic Review," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 259-268, April.
    2. Simplice Asongu & Uduak S. Akpan & Salisu R. Isihak, 2018. "Determinants of foreign direct investment in fast-growing economies: evidence from the BRICS and MINT countries," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 4(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Olatunji A. Shobande & Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "Has Knowledge Improved Economic Growth? Evidence from Nigeria and South Africa," Working Papers 21/059, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    4. Simplice A. Asongu & John Kuada, 2020. "Building knowledge economies in Africa: an introduction," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 1-6, January.
    5. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2019. "Governance, capital flight and industrialisation in Africa," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 8(1), pages 1-22, December.
    6. Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "Global Software Piracy, Technology and Property Rights Institutions," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(3), pages 1036-1063, September.
    7. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2020. "Finance, governance and inclusive education in Sub-Saharan Africa," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 17(8), pages 1044-1061, July.
    8. Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "The Effects of Mobile Phone Technology, Knowledge Creation and Diffusion on Inclusive Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(3), pages 1367-1398, September.
    9. Asongu, Simplice & Odhiambo, Nicholas, 2020. "The role of governance in quality education in sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 107497, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Simplice A. Asongu & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2018. "“This One Is 400 Libyan Dinars, This One Is 500”: Insights from Cognitive Human Capital and Slave Trade," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 291-306, April.
    11. Simplice A. Asongu & Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2019. "Foreign aid volatility and lifelong learning," Research Africa Network Working Papers 19/086, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    12. Asongu, Simplice A. & Nnanna, Joseph & Acha-Anyi, Paul N., 2020. "Finance, inequality and inclusive education in Sub-Saharan Africa," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 162-177.
    13. Asongu, Simplice & Rahman, Mushfiqur & Nnanna, Joseph & Haffar, Mohamed, 2020. "Enhancing Information Technology for Value Added Across Economic Sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 107238, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Simplice A. Asongu & Samba Diop & Amsalu K. Addis, 2023. "Governance, Inequality and Inclusive Education in Sub-Saharan Africa," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(1), pages 43-68, January.
    15. Simplice A. Asongu & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2018. "“This one is 400 Libyan dinars, this one is 500†: Insights from Cognitive Human Capital and Slave Trade," AFEA Working Papers 18/014, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA).
    16. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2022. "Information Technology and Sustainability in Developing Countries: An Introduction," Working Papers 22/028, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    17. Asongu, Simplice A. & Odhiambo, Nicholas M., 2020. "Inequality and gender inclusion: Minimum ICT policy thresholds for promoting female employment in Sub-Saharan Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(4).
    18. Riccardo Pelizzo & Lucas Katera & Stephen Mwombela & Lulu Olan’g, 2018. "Poverty and development in Tanzania," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 18/011, African Governance and Development Institute..
    19. Asongu, Simplice A. & Rahman, Mushfiqur & Nnanna, Joseph & Haffar, Mohamed, 2020. "Enhancing information technology for value added across economic sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa✰," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    20. Mugabe Roger & Liu Shulin & Brima Sesay, 2022. "ICT Development, Innovation Diffusion and Sustainable Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    21. Yaya, OlaOluwa S. & Furuoka, Fumitaka & Pui, Kiew Ling & Jacob, Ray Ikechukwu & Ezeoke, Chinyere M., 2020. "Investigating Asian regional income convergence using Fourier Unit Root test with Break," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 120-129.
    22. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2022. "Information Sharing and Banking Efficiency in Africa: A Disaggregated Panel Data Analysis," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 22/010, African Governance and Development Institute..
    23. Tii N. Nchofoung & Simplice A. Asongu & Vanessa S. Tchamyou, 2022. "Gender political inclusion and inclusive finance in Africa," Working Papers 22/063, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    24. Skare, Marinko & Soriano, Domingo Riberio, 2021. "Technological and knowledge diffusion link: An international perspective 1870–2019," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries

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