Socio-Economic Review 2:1-32 (2004)
© 2004 Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics
New growth regimes, but still institutional diversity
CEPREMAP, CNRS, EHESS, 48 Boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris, France
Correspondence: robert.boyer{at}cepremap.cnrs.fr
Whereas the American case may hint that product and labour market deregulation, venture capital and NASDAQ are necessary for the success of technologically led growth, international comparison suggests the coexistence of at least three successful configurations. Deregulated economies explore a science-pushed innovation, along with external labour flexibility and significant inequality in terms of competences. However, social democratic countries develop a cooperative approach to the knowledge-based economy: rather homogeneous educational level, lifelong learning, negotiation by social partners of the consequence of innovation and collectively organized labour mobility. There is a third configuration for some catching-up economies that use information technology as a method of leapfrogging: labour markets remain largely institutionalized and regulated, without exerting adverse impact upon macroeconomic performance.
Key Words: ICT • knowledge based economy • comparative growth analysis • institutional complementarity • brand of capitalism • the new economy • JEL classification: G14 information and market efficiency; event studies, O33 technological change: choices and consequences, O47 measurement of economic growth; aggregate productivity