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Institutional (Dis)Incentives to Innovate: An Explanation for Singapore's Innovation Gap

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2016

Richard W. Carney  and
Loh Yi Zheng
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Abstract

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Despite having the fifth highest per capita GDP in the world (according to IMF PPP statistics for 2007), and despite numerous government efforts to spur innovation, Singapore has faced difficulties in establishing a durable base of entrepreneurial activity. Many ascribe this failure to the city-state's policies, which are often portrayed as generating a culture of risk aversion and a lack of creativity. In contrast to this conventional view, this article argues that the city-state's institutional arrangements generate conflicting innovation incentives and ultimately undermine innovative activity. Statistical tests across twenty-three countries offer evidence that is consistent with this argument.

Keywords

innovationvarieties of capitalisminstitutionsSingaporetechnologytechnologicalpoliticsresearchgross expenditure on research and developmentnational innovative capacity
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of East Asian Studies , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , August 2009 , pp. 291 - 319
Copyright
Copyright © East Asia Institute 

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