Abstract

The paradigm shift orchestrated by evolving New Growth Theory has “endogenized” technical change with its production embedded in the positive neoclassical belvedere. Knowledge no longer assumed as naturally endowed but demands a conscious organization and production by rationally optimizing the behavior of economic agents. The divergence in knowledge in Africa supports the assumption that confirmed the tacit nature of technological knowledge. This suggests that knowledge requires to build competitive economy is inarticulate and may not be easily transmitted at zero marginal cost. To this end, technological knowledge possesses the feature of an ordinary private good and can only be transmitted at a cost via imitation and apprenticeship. This study assesses the role of the knowledge types—basically codified (scientific knowledge) and tacit (technological and entrepreneurial knowledge) on the growth process in Africa for the period 1990–2017. The data used for the empirical investigation were obtained from the World Bank 2018 World Development Indicators and World Governance Indicators. The study adopted the System Generalized Method of Moments in performing empirical investigation. In addition, statistics from World Economic Forum’s Global Competitive Index and World Bank’s Human Capital Index were analyzed. The study found evidence supporting a strong link between technological knowledge (and entrepreneurial) and economic growth while the responsiveness of growth to scientific knowledge infinitesimally approaches zero. The paper recommends a framework that builds competitive knowledge capable of addressing developmental challenges. As domestic sufficiency is attained, trans-border transfers in terms of products and processes will attract wealth.

摘要

通过发展新的增长理论精心策划的范式转变已经“内生化”了技术变革，其生产嵌入了积极的新古典主义的lv望台。知识不再被认为是自然赋予的，而是需要通过合理地优化经济主体的行为来有意识地组织和生产。非洲知识的差异支持了证实技术知识具有隐性的假设。这表明建立竞争性经济所需的知识不够明确，可能难以以零边际成本进行传播。为此，技术知识具有普通私人物品的特征，并且只能通过模仿和学徒制来进行传播。这项研究评估了知识类型（基本编码（科学知识）和隐性知识（技术和企业家知识））在1990-2017年期间对非洲增长过程的作用。实证研究使用的数据来自世界银行《 2018年世界发展指标》和《世界治理指标》。该研究在进行实证研究时采用了系统广义矩法。此外，还分析了世界经济论坛全球竞争力指数和世界银行人力资本指数的统计数据。这项研究发现了证据支持技术知识（和企业家精神）与经济增长之间的紧密联系，而增长对科学知识的响应无限地接近零。本文提出了一个框架，以建立能够应对发展挑战的竞争性知识。随着实现国内自给自足，就产品和过程而言，跨境转移将吸引财富。