Economics of Technological Leapfrogging

Lee, Keun (2019): Economics of Technological Leapfrogging. Published in: UNIDO Working Paper (Dept of Policy, Research and Statistics) No. 17 (2019)

Abstract

One of the key issues of latecomer economic development is whether they should follow the path of forerunners or whether they should create a new or follow a different path of development. An emerging view (Lee and Lim, 2001; Lee, 2013) is that latecomers do not simply follow advanced countries’ path of technological development but occasionally skip certain stages or create their own path which differs from that of forerunners. This observation is consistent with the idea of leapfrogging (Perez and Soete, 1988), according to which some latecomers may be able to leapfrog older vintages of technology, bypass heavy investments in previous technological systems or stages, and make pre-emptive investments in emerging technologies to catch up with advanced countries in new markets. The answer to the question whether the 4IR represents a new window of opportunity for leapfrogging or whether it constitutes a source of further risks for latecomers is that this depends entirely on the country’s response and readiness, i.e. its industrial policy, digital literacy, the skill and education level compared to wage rates, as well as domestic market size and position in the GVC. We identify three groups of countries. The first group of economies have a manufacturing basis and seems to be the group with the most promising potential for proper leapfrogging from Industry 2.0 (mass production) to Industry 4.0 (smart factories) and bypass the intermediate stage of Industry 3.0 (automation). The second group of economies have an FDI-based manufacturing sector, where leapfrogging hinges on MNCs which have several options at their disposal, such as relocating to other economies in search of cheaper wages or reshoring back to home countries. The key factor for success in this context are the local institutions – if they foster the training and upskilling of the local workforce, they can persuade MNCs to remain in the country. The last group includes latecomer economies that have the potential of making promising 4IR-related strides in the service sector or in servicitized manufacturing industries. It is quite plausible that success in services may have a boosting effect on local manufacturing.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: leapfrogging; window of opportunity; 4th industrial revolution; GVC; path-creating; catch up; technological development
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O2 - Development Planning and Policy > O25 - Industrial Policy; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights

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