Approaching the Knowledge Economy: a Comparative Study of China and India

Title:

Approaching the Knowledge Economy: A Comparative Study of China and India

Dr. Tran Duc Hiep

Code:QK.09.02

Duration period:2009 - 2011

Organization:University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Summary:

• Research objective:

The goal of the project is to present the different and similar points in approaching the knowledge economy and selecting knowledge-economy oriented policies in China and India; hence drawing useful empirical lessons closed to the reality and applicable to the context of Vietnam.

• Research contents:

Chapter 1: Theoretical issues of knowledge economy

After exploring some popular conceptions about the knowledge economy, the project provides a unified understanding of the knowledge economy. This is an economy in which the production, distribution and use of knowledge have become the main force playing a decisive role in the growth of creating goods processes.

From this conception of the knowledge economy, the project explores and presents the basic characteristics of this new economy; some criteria for recognizing it as well as its development trend. More importantly, the project has identified in principle the conditions to approach the knowledge economy.

Chapter 2: Similarities and differences in the development towards the knowledge economy between China and India

The development towards the knowledge economy in China and India has been reviewed and compared under the 4 following aspects:

i) Starting point of the genesis and development of the knowledge economy

ii) Points of view about knowledge economy

iii) Specific knowledge-economy oriented policies

iv) Current resulting situations of the development of the knowledge-based economies in China and India

The aforementioned viewpoints serve as a solid base for the project to come to conclusions about the similarities and differences between China and India, from which demonstrating empirical lessons in the development of the knowledge economy for other follower countries.

Chapter 3: Knowledge-economy Policy Implications for Vietnam

After outlining some experiences of China and India in approaching the knowledge economy, the project focuses on analyzing the current situation of the development of the knowledge economy in Vietnam for the time being. In particular, the project points out some challenges Vietnam has to overcome in such a development process including:

i) Technologies used in Vietnam are mostly obsolete.

ii) Investment in technological innovation in Vietnam is very low

iii) Vietnam has not yet identified driving force knowledge-rich products

iv) Vietnam is seriously lacking well trained labor force necessary for the knowledge economy

Main research results of the projects:

• Scientific contributions of the project:

-First step to identify the similarities and differences in the development of the knowledge economies between China and India.

-From the approaches of China and India towards the knowledge economy, outlining some development experiences for Vietnam.

-On the basis of the comparative study of the knowledge economy development in China and India and the current situation of the development of the knowledge economy in Vietnam, the project proposed some policies suggestions to approach the knowledge economy in Vietnam.

Practical results (article):

Approaches to the Knowledge Economy in China and India and some implications for Vietnam, Journal of Africa and Middle East Studies, No. 04 (68), 4/2011.

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