Creative Accumulation

Lessons from Korea's Path out of the Middle Innovation Trap

Inbunden, Engelska, 2026

984 kr

Kommande

Beskrivning

Creative Accumulation examines how nations build the capabilities required for sustained technological leadership, moving beyond simple catch-up growth. Drawing on Korea's long-term development experience, Jeong-Dong Lee introduces the concept of the "middle innovation trap", a condition in which countries achieve high levels of implementation capability yet struggle to generate original concepts, architectures, and design leadership.The book argues that original concept design is not the product of individual genius or sudden breakthroughs but the outcome of creative accumulation. Creative accumulation requires posing bold question, persistently accumulating trial-and-error experiences, and scaling up from ideas to viable outcomes. Integrating insights from innovation theory, evolutionary economics, and industrial policy, Jeong-Dong Lee shows how these processes of creative accumulation enable nations to become technology leaders.Although the book draws its evidence from the trajectory of Korean industry and technology, Korea's experience represents a compelling and instructive case of a broader developmental process. Drawing on decades of engagement with government and business, Lee shows that countries which fail to build solid implementation capability tend to fall into the middle income trap. Yet even countries that escape this may encounter the middle innovation trap if they fail to develop concept design capability, resulting in renewed stagnation. To transition out of this phase demands sustained, national-level efforts from firms, governments, and institutions. Creative Accumulation offers concrete policy prescriptions for overcoming the middle innovation trap, grounded in coordinated, mission-oriented, and long-term strategies that can guide nations at every stage of development.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2026-12-01
Mått:151 x 212 x 21 mm
Vikt:422 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:248
Förlag:OUP USA
ISBN:9780197853368

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Mer om författaren

Jeong-Dong Lee is Professor of Technology Management, Economics, and Policy at Seoul National University. His published works address productivity growth, technological evolution, and innovation policy, and have played an important role in shaping public and policy debates in Korea. Lee is a member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the National Academy of Engineering of Korea and has served as Editor of Science and Public Policy. He previously served as Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Korea on Economy and Technology. His research bridges the theoretical foundations of innovation studies and the practical realities of innovation policy, with a focus on how nations build the capabilities required for sustained innovation leadership.

Innehållsförteckning

Prologue: Miracles Can Be Explained 1: The Shadow of Success Part/leavevmode@ifvmode 1. The Two Traps: Middle Income and Middle Innovation Traps 2: The Two Faces of Korean Industry: Growth and Stagnation 3: The Challenges of the Korean Industry: A Lack of Concept Design Capability Part/leavevmode@ifvmode 2. The Five Myths: Unlocking Creative Accumulation 4: How Original Concept Design Comes to Life 5: Myth 1: Creative Ideas Are All We Need 6: Myth 2: Concept Design Capability Can Be Purchased 7: Myth 3: Production Abroad, Concept Design at Home 8: Myth 4: Innovative Concept Design Is the Work of Lonely Geniuses 9: Myth 5: Time Cannot Be Compressed Part/leavevmode@ifvmode 3. The Developmental Trap: How Success Becomes Constraint 10: The Middle Innovation Trap 11: "Made in Korea": Half Full Glass Part/leavevmode@ifvmode 4. The Transformation: Strategies for Creative Accumulation 12: Moving Together: The Path to Creative Accumulation 13: Creative Accumulation Strategy 14: From Poverty to Innovation: Lessons for Development Strategy 15: A New Beginning: The Age of Creative Accumulation