Hardback
INNOVATION IN EAST ASIA
The Challenge to Japan
9781858980171 Edward Elgar Publishing
Innovation in East Asia is the first book to show how ‘latecomer’ firms from Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore have caught up technologically with Japan and learned to innovate. Mike Hobday examines the technology acquisition strategies of these firms, their strengths and weaknesses, and the origin and extent of latecomer innovation in the region.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
Innovation in East Asia is the first book to show how ‘latecomer’ firms from Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore have caught up technologically with Japan and learned to innovate. Mike Hobday examines the technology acquisition strategies of these firms, their strengths and weaknesses, and the origin and extent of latecomer innovation in the region.
A series of detailed case studies is used to show how individual companies developed and how large groups of firms formed industrial clusters from behind the technology frontier. Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore have emerged as dynamic and distinct forces for growth and innovation. Increasingly the competitive challenge to Japan comes from these countries rather than from Europe and America. The book extends conventional innovation theory to develop an analytical framework for understanding the strengths, weaknesses and future prospects of latecomer firms.
The book will be welcomed by academics, policymakers, students, government bodies and companies concerned with the rise of East Asia. It will be of particular interest to countries facing the competitive challenge of East Asia (the US and Europe) as well as Japan and the individual countries of the Asian region.
A series of detailed case studies is used to show how individual companies developed and how large groups of firms formed industrial clusters from behind the technology frontier. Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore have emerged as dynamic and distinct forces for growth and innovation. Increasingly the competitive challenge to Japan comes from these countries rather than from Europe and America. The book extends conventional innovation theory to develop an analytical framework for understanding the strengths, weaknesses and future prospects of latecomer firms.
The book will be welcomed by academics, policymakers, students, government bodies and companies concerned with the rise of East Asia. It will be of particular interest to countries facing the competitive challenge of East Asia (the US and Europe) as well as Japan and the individual countries of the Asian region.
Critical Acclaim
‘Hobday provides an extraordinary interesting blow-by-blow account of how East Asian firms developed their present formidable competencies in electronics technology. . . . he also provides a fascinatingly detailed account of a large number of East Asian companies that currently are quite sophisticated in electronics.’
– R. Nelson, Research Policy
‘This is a well-written and important book which should be required reading for anyone wishing to understand the pattern of advantage in electronics, the rise of East Asia, and the process of technological catch-up for latecomer countries.’
– Andrew Tylecote, Prometheus
‘Innovation in East Asia tackles the complex but previously neglected issue of technology acquisition in a clear, concise and rigorous analytical manner. It represents the first substantive study of the critical role of technology in the growth performance of the Asian NICs and provides useful insights into the origins of East Asian economic success.’
– Robert Read, Business History
‘Hobday presents a persuasive, even compelling argument. More importantly, by devoting most of his analysis to the internal workings of firms, he addresses a large gap in the literature on East Asian development. . . Innovation in East Asia is well worth reading. . . . his book offers valuable insights and constitutes a much needed addition to the literature on East Asian development.’
– Timothy C. Lim, Korean Studies
– R. Nelson, Research Policy
‘This is a well-written and important book which should be required reading for anyone wishing to understand the pattern of advantage in electronics, the rise of East Asia, and the process of technological catch-up for latecomer countries.’
– Andrew Tylecote, Prometheus
‘Innovation in East Asia tackles the complex but previously neglected issue of technology acquisition in a clear, concise and rigorous analytical manner. It represents the first substantive study of the critical role of technology in the growth performance of the Asian NICs and provides useful insights into the origins of East Asian economic success.’
– Robert Read, Business History
‘Hobday presents a persuasive, even compelling argument. More importantly, by devoting most of his analysis to the internal workings of firms, he addresses a large gap in the literature on East Asian development. . . Innovation in East Asia is well worth reading. . . . his book offers valuable insights and constitutes a much needed addition to the literature on East Asian development.’
– Timothy C. Lim, Korean Studies
Contents
Contents: Acknowledgements Foreword by Chris Freeman Part I: Introduction: East Asia’s Technological Development Part II: East Asian Regional Dynamics Part III: The Latecomer Firm Part IV: The Republic of Korea: Catching up in Large Corporations Part V: Taiwan: Small Firms Innovation Clusters Part VI: Singapore: A Test Case of Leapfrogging Part VII: Hong Kong: Laissez-faire Techological Development Part VIII: Conclusions and Implications Bibliography Index
