Korea is a country with limited natural resources, which has developed through a strategy of industrialisation and the economies of scale. However this is being challenged by the rise of knowledge as a principal driver of competitiveness. This book is the result of a joint study by the OECD and the World Bank to develop a comprehensive set of national policy responses to the knowledge revolution. It concentrates on four areas: 1) an institutional and economic regime that provides incentives for the creation of new knowledge and its efficient use; 2) an educated and entrepreneurial population; 3) a dynamic information infrastructure; 4) an efficient system of innovation.

Korea's development process offers valuable lessons for other developing and less developed economies. In particular, the way Korea uses outside technologies, by accumulating indigenous capabilities, is still valid in the era of the knowledge economy. This volume examines the Korean model and Korea's march toward a knowledge economy from a poverty-ridden economy before the launch of full-scale industrialization in the early 1960s. It also emphasizes Korea's achievements, as well as remaining tasks within the four pillars of the knowledge economy, with a common theme throughout -- how Korea has narrowed the gaps in its knowledge and institutions in global competition with world leaders.

Based on the success of the World Scientific publication OC Governing and Managing KnowledgeOCO edited by Thomas Menkhoff, Hans-Dieter Evers and Chay Yue Wah in 2005, this unique volume presents 16 new theoretical-practical papers on the strategic aspects of developing knowledge-based economies with case studies from South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Uzbekistan. A key question which the book seeks to answer is what Asian policy-makers and leaders in government, economy and society can do to further enhance learning and capability formation so as to foster sustainable development in an increasingly globalized world. It addresses the politico-cultural and socio-economic challenges of effectively managing both knowledge resources and coping with the great digital divide created by globalization, continuous technology innovations and rapid external change. A key objective of the publication is to enable latecomers in the knowledge race to understand some of the critical success factors of sustainable knowledge-based development and what it takes to build a resilient knowledge-based economy.

This report presents the main findings of three major studies carried out as part of Korea and the Bank's Knowledge Partnership. It is divided into three main sections: (a) a Strategic Review which integrates, and summarizes the most important findings, and policy recommendations for Government to consider; (b) the three in depth studies regarding Korea's transition towards a knowledge-based economy, and, (c) detailed annexes. Korea faces complex challenges in moving toward a knowledge-based economy, which will require inspired corporate strategies, and government policies. The three studies represent an important 'triad' of issues that constitute a core part of the foundation of Korea's knowledge economy: the deepening of technological knowledge at the firm-level; the intensification of the use of internet enabled services by firms; and, the educational implications for upgrading of the workforce. At the firm-level, further mastery of technological knowledge is essential for firms to move further 'upstream' from their base in manufacturing, towards higher value added activities based on research, development, and new product innovation. For each of these three themes (firm-level innovation, Internet enabled services, and educational reform), new empirical data are presented for understanding, and promoting knowledge-intensive economic progress. The Strategic Review summarizes several difficulties confronting government policy makers in the aim to promote advances towards knowledge intensive activities. These include the need to ensure: (a) that any new policies are consistent with existing policies designed to ensure good corporate governance, competition, and transparency; (b) that private sector, market-based mechanisms play their proper part in any upgrading efforts (i.e. training and consultancy providers); and, (c) that further evaluation of the scope, and effectiveness of existing policies in the three areas is carried out.

What is this knowledge-based economy? Is it really new or unique? What are its effects, and what does it mean to us? In order to help answer those questions, this anthology has been compiled as a means of providing answers for anyone in business or the public policy-making fields who would like to know what academics and economists are talking about when they refer to the knowledge-based economy. It is a collection of articles dealing with the most important developing themes in this area: *The shift in employment from "brawn to brains" *The effect that "knowledge elitism" may have on public policy concerning education and training, wealth disparity and social exclusion *Organizational changes brought about by the new breed of "knowledge workers" functioning in the new high-performance workplace *Computing, telecommunications, globalization, and the interconnected economy Using seminal articles from a variety of sources, this volume is intended to be a primer for introducing the reader to all aspects of the knowledge-based economy. Dale Neef is a political economist and a knowledge management specialist with extensive academic and commercial experience in both North America and Europe. He earned his Ph.D. in Economic History from the University of Cambridge, was a Research Fellow at Harvard University, and currently works with Ernst & Young's Center for Business Innovation researching issues surrounding knowledge management and the knowledge-based economy. He divides his time between writing, lecturing, and consultancy. Part of the series Resources for the Knowledge-Based Economy Introduces the reader to all aspects of the knowledge-based economy Uses seminal articles from a variety of sources