Innovation and Learning Experiences in Rapidly Developing East Asia

Technology and technical change is sector- and industry-specific, embedded by locational institutions and organizations, and integrated in global networks. It is non-linear in its emergence and movement, and subsumed in the nature of micro, meso and macro interactions. Using evolutionary theory and its methodological complement of inductive research, this collection showcases selected examples of innovation and learning experience in the rapidly evolving developing economies of East Asia.

Consistent with evolutionary postulations of technology and technical change, this volume provides a range of empirically rich articles that elucidate innovation and learning experiences in East Asia. The case studies range from the dramatic movement of button manufacturing in China, to the globe’s technology frontier, to the rapidly expanding but without tangible technological catch-up of garment manufacturing in the least developed country of Laos. The rich selection of industry-based national case studies provides a comprehensive account of technological catch-up experiences that will be very useful for both scholars and policy makers.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

Rajah Rasiah is Professor of Technology and Innovation Policy in the Faculty of Economics and Administration at the University of Malaya, Malaysia.

Thiruchelvam Kanagasundram is an Associate Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the University of Malaya, Malaysia.

Keun Lee is the director of the Center for Economic Catch-up, and Professor of Economics at the Seoul National University, South Korea.