INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING IN ECONOMIC GROWTH: AN INNOVATION SYSTEMS APPROACH

To understand and explain economic growth and social progress is the ultimate objective of economics. Economic growth has not happened simultaneously and evenly in all countries. Rather, it is characterized by “a secular increase in the variance in per capita income” (Dosi et al. 1994: 10) across countries, with some countries forging ahead, some catching up, while some falling behind from time to time. Grown up in the largest developing country, China, to understand economic growth has always been my passion. The mainstream economic growth theories could not explain the technological change and the dynamics of institutions well, which are the two most important aspects of economic growth and social progress. The concept of systems of innovation, with its roots in the evolutionary economic theory and the focus on the dynamics of technology and institutions provides a good alternative solution. However, given that the concept is relatively new and the research subjects are really complex, the current systems of innovation studies can still be improved on how to better address system dynamics, especially institutional dynamics. This is what we focus on in this research. To be more specific, for the first time in the field, a comprehensive literature review is conducted to assess the characteristics of the systems of innovation studies of developing countries. The review reveals the importance and necessity to address system dynamics, especially institutional dynamics better. Responding to this need, we develop and present a framework that describes institutional dynamics as learning processes, which is then validated through case studies of institutional dynamics within several representative countries/regions. At last, quantitative studies are conducted to test (1) the existence of significant heterogeneity in technological change and economic growth and (2) whether effective institutional learning leads to higher economic growth rate. Positive results are confirmed in both cases.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Management

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Yu, Xiaoling

Contributors dc:contributor

• Carlsson, Bo

• Economics
• Institutional Learning
• Systems of Innovation
• Innovation Systems
• Economic Growth

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1347892629

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1347892629