Knowledge Economy and Turkey In Terms Of Innovation and Education

Abstract

Communication and information technologies have started to emerge since the 40s resulting major changes in the way business has been conducted and effected global economy. Transitions to knowledge-intensive business models become popular since late 1950s. Additionally intellectual capabilities become more important than physical inputs. Having sufficient national production and technology to create a welfare society similar to developed countries is crucial for any modern nation. One of the main developmental leverages for the globalization becomes the knowledge based economic approach. Developed by World Bank “Knowledge Assessment Methodology” is very important methodology in order to measure the progress of countries towards having a knowledge based economy. World Bank's four Knowledge Economy pillars: economic and institutional regime, education, innovation, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) developed for countries to make basic assessment of countries’ readiness for the knowledge economy and help them the transition to a Knowledge Economy. In this study, knowledge economy concept and its properties are presented. Furthermore this paper introduces the analysis of knowledge economy from Turkey’s perspective especially for the role of innovation and education pillars in the development of Turkey.