Creative accumulation : lessons from Korea's path out of the middle innovation trap / Jeong-Dong Lee.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Yi, Chŏng-dong, 1967- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Economic development.

Economic development--Korea (South).

Technology--Economic aspects.

Technology.

economic development.

Korea (South).

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations

illustration

Other Title:

Lessons from Korea's path out of the middle innovation trap

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2026]

Summary:

'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.

Contents:

Prologue: miracles can be explained

The shadow of success

The two faces of Korean industry: growth and stagnation

The challenges of the Korean industry: a lack of concept design capability

How original concept design comes to life

Myth 1: creative ideas are all we need

Myth 2: concept design capability can be purchased

Myth 3: production abroad, concept design at home

Myth 4: innovative concept design is the work of lonely geniuses

Myth 5: time cannot be compressed

The middle innovation trap

“Made in Korea”: half full glass

Moving together: the path to creative accumulation

Creative accumulation strategy

From poverty to innovation: lessons for development strategy

A new beginning: the age of creative accumulation.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (Oxford Academic, viewed on September 14, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version : Yi, Chŏng-dong, 1967- Creative accumulation.

ISBN:

9780197853399

0197853390

OCLC:

1601042482

Publisher Number:

CIPO000408935

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license