Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The Knowledge-Based Economy: Conceptual Framework or Buzzword?

  • Published:
The Journal of Technology Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the last two decades, concepts have appeared that have influenced and even defined entire science and technology policies in Western countries: high technology, national system of innovation, information economy, knowledge-based economy, and the new economy. In all these policy developments, the OECD, acting as a think tank for its member countries, has been an important promoter of these concepts, turning them into buzzwords. This article looks at the concept of knowledge-based economy in order to explore the crucial role of the OECD in its dissemination and, above all, the role statistics have played in shaping policy discourses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • B. Amable R. Barré R. Boyer (1997) Les systèmes d’innovation à l’ère de la globalisation Economica Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • J.R. Beniger (1986) The Control Revolution: Technological and Economic Origins of the Information Society Harvard University Press Cambridge (Mass.)

    Google Scholar 

  • CEC, 2000, Innovation in a Knowledge-Driven Economy, COM 567.

  • CEC, 2003, Innovation: Forthcoming Policy Studies–Innovation Management and the Knowledge-Driven Economy.

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameCommisariat du Plan (2002) La France dans l’économie du savoir: pour une dynamique collective Groupe de travail Vignier Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • David, P. and D. Foray, 1995, ‘Assessing and Expanding the Science and Technology Knowledge Base,’ STI Review 16.

  • G. Dosi et al. (1988) Technical Change and Economic Theory Pinter London

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Edler (2002) German Pilot Study Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research Karlsruhe

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Edquist (Eds) (1997) Systems of Innovation: Technologies, Institutions and Organizations Pinter London

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union, 2003, Third European Report on Science and Technology Indicators: Towards a Knowledge-Based Economy.

  • Foray, D., 2000a, ‘Characterizing the Knowledge Base: Available and Missing Indicators’, in OECD, Knowledge Management in the Learning Society, Paris: OECD, pp. 239–257.

  • D. Foray (2000b) L’économie de la connaissance La Découverte Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Foray (2001) Terms of Reference for a Project on Design, Implementation and Exploitation of an International Survey of Knowledge Management in the Private Sector, DSTI/ICCP/IIS/RD (2001) 5 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Foray D. and B.-A. Lundvall, 1996, ‘The Knowledge-Based Economy: From the Economics of Knowledge to the Learning Economy,’ in OECD, Employment and Growth in the Knowledge-Based Economy, Paris: OECD, pp. 11–32.

  • C. Freeman (1987) Technology Policy and Economic Performance Pinter London

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Godin (1998) ArticleTitle‘Writing Performative History: The New New Atlantis’ Social Studies of Science 28 IssueID3 465–483

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Godin (2003) ArticleTitleThe Emergence of Science and Technology Indicators: Why Did Governments Supplement Statistics with Indicators? Research Policy 32 IssueID4 679–691 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00032-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B. Godin (2004) ArticleTitle‘The New Economy: What the Concept Owes to the OECD,’ Research Policy 33 679–690

    Google Scholar 

  • Godin, B., 2005,Measurement and Statistics on Science and Technology: 1920 to the Present, London: Routlege.

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameGovernment of Canada (2002) Canada’s Innovation Strategy, I. Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning for Canadians; II. Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity Industry Canada Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Kahn (2001) ArticleTitle‘Investment in Knowledge’ STI Review 27 19–47

    Google Scholar 

  • B.-A. Lundvall (Eds) (1992) National Systems of Innovation: Towards a Theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning Pinter London

    Google Scholar 

  • B.-A. Lundvall B. Johnson (1994) ArticleTitle‘The Learning Economy,’ Journal of Industry Studies 1 IssueID2 23–42

    Google Scholar 

  • B.-A. Lundvall B. Johnson E.S. Andersen B. Dalum (2003) ArticleTitle‘National Systems of Production, Innovation and Competence Building’ Research Policy 31 213–231

    Google Scholar 

  • F. Machlup (1962) The Production and Distribution of Knowledge in the United States Princeton University Press Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • W.C. Mitchell (1919) ArticleTitle‘Statistics and Government’ Journal of the American Statistical Association 125 223–235

    Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Nelson (1981) ArticleTitle‘Research on Productivity Growth and Productivity Differences: Dead Ends and New Departures’ Journal of Economic Literature 19 1029–1106

    Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Nelson (Eds) (1993) National Innovation Systems: A Comparative Analysis Oxford University Press Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Nelson S.G. Winter (1977) ArticleTitle‘In Search of a Useful Theory of Innovation’ Research Policy 6 36–76 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0048-7333(77)90029-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1981) Information Activities, Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies, Vol. 1: Impact on Employment, Growth and Trade OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1986) Trends in the Information Economy OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1992) National Systems of Innovation: Definitions, Conceptual Foundations and Initial Steps in a Comparative Analysis, DSTI/STP(92)15 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1993a) Manufacturing Performance: A Scoreboard of Indicators for OECD Countries, DSTI/EAS/IND/WP9(93)2 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1993b) Work on National Innovation Systems: Road Map, DSTI/STP(93)8 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1994a) Developing STI Review/Outlooks: A Proposal, DSTI/IND/STP/ICCP(94)4 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1994b) National Innovation Systems: Work Plan for Pilot Case Studies, DSTI/STP/TIP(94)16 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1995a) National Systems for Financing Innovation OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1995b) Réunion ad hoc conjointe sur l’intégration des rapports relatifs aux perspectives, DSTI/IND/STP(95)1 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1995c) Science and Technology Indicators, Meeting of the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy at Ministerial Level OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1995d) The Implications of the Knowledge-Based Economy for Future Science and Technology Policies, OCDE/GD(95)136 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1996a) Conference on New S&T Indicators for a Knowledge-Based Economy: Background Document, DSTI/STP/NESTI/GSS/TIP(96)2 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1996b) Conference on New Indicators for the Knowledge-Based Economy: Summary Record, DSTI/STP/NESTI/GSS/TIP(96)5 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1996b) Employment and Growth in the Knowledge-Based Economy OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1996d) National Innovation Systems: Proposals for Phase II, DSTI/STP/TIP(96)11 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1996e) New Indicators for the Knowledge-Based Economy: Proposals for Future Work, DSTI/STP/NESTI/GSS/TIP(96)6 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1996f) Science, Technology and Industry Outlook, Chapter 5 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1996g) ‘The Knowledge-Based Economy’ BibInstitutionalEditorNameOECD (Eds) STI Outlook OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1997a) Industrial Competitiveness in the Knowledge-Based Economy: The New Role of Governments OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1997b) National Innovation Systems OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1998a) New S&T Indicators for a Knowledge-Based Economy: Present Results and Future Work, DSTI/STP/NESTI/GSS/TIP(98)1 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1998b) Possible Meeting of the CSTP at Ministerial Level: Statistical Compendium, DSTI/EAS/STP/NESTI (98) 8 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1998c) Seminar on New Indicators for the Knowledge-Based Economy: Development Issues, CCNM/DSTI/EAS(98)63 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1998d) Technology, Productivity and Job Creation: Best Policy Practices, Chap. 1 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1999a) Boosting Innovation: The Cluster Approach OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1999b) Managing National Innovation Systems OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1999c) STI Scoreboard: Benchmarking Knowledge-Based Economies OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1999d) The Knowledge-Based Economy: A Set of Facts and Figures OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2000a) Knowledge Management in the Learning Society OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2000b) Science, Technology and Industry Outlook, Chap. 1 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2001a) Innovative Clusters: Drivers of National Innovation Systems OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2001b) Innovative Networks: Co-Operation in National Innovation Systems OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2001c) STI Scoreboard: Towards a Knowledge-Based Economy OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2002a) Dynamising National Innovation Systems OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2002b) Science, Technology and Industry Outlook, Chap. 1 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD, 2002c, STI Review 27(special issue).

  • M. Porat M. Rubin (1977) The Information Economy, US Department of Commerce GPO Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • M.R. Rubin M. Taylor (1984) The Knowledge Industry in the United States: 1960–1980 Princeton University Press Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K., 1995, ‘Interactions in Knowledge Systems: Foundations, Policy Implications and Empirical Methods,’ STI Review 16.

  • Smith, K., 2002, What is the Knowledge Economy? Knowledge Intensity and Distributed Knowledge Bases, UNU/INTECH Discussion Paper, ISSN 1564–8370.

  • T. Shinn (2002) ArticleTitle‘The Triple Helix and New Production of Knowledge: Prepackaged Thinking in Science and Technology’ Social Studies of Science 32 IssueID4 599–614 Occurrence Handle10.1177/030631202128967271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameStatistics Canada (2002) Are We Managing our Knowledge? Results from the Pilot Knowledge Management Practices Survey, 2001, L. Earl Statistics Canada Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Webb (2000) Knowledge-Based Industries, DSTI/EAS/IND/SWP(2000)5 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Webb (2001) Knowledge-Based Industries, DSTI/EAS/IND/SWP (2001)13 OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benoît Godin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Godin, B. The Knowledge-Based Economy: Conceptual Framework or Buzzword?. J Technol Transfer 31, 17–30 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-005-5010-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-005-5010-x

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation