The Study On The Path Selection Of The Technological Progress In China

This paper discusses the paradox of backwardness advantage in technicalprogress from theory research of backwardness advantage in technical progress，anddiscusses path selection problem of our country technology progress. First, this articlereviews on the path selection of China’s technology progress from the theory andpractice. In theory, we review the controversy of "endowment hypothesis" in thetheory of comparative advantage and "technology development hypothesis" in thetheory of competitive advantage; In practice, we elaborate the controversy technologyprogress path which is imitate innovation or independent innovation. Second, underthe analysis model of "center-periphery theory" and "the North-South technologydiffusion theory", we sets up a technological progress’s theoretical model that is howthe late-development countries from advantage of technology backwardness totechnology catching-up. At the end, this paper discusses the problem of technologyprogress path selection in our country on the basis of present situation that are "theconstruction of innovative country”,“the inequality of regional innovation factorendowment" and "the two element structure of the industrial upgrading" withempirical measurement analysis tools. The theoretical and empirical researchconclusions are as follows:The theoretical conclusions show that:(1) the resource allocation ratio of theintroduction of technology and independent innovation depends on the outputelasticity of the two element in southern states (the developing countries);(2) whenthe technology gap on the countries of the South and northward country (technologydeveloped countries) is small, choosing independent innovation as the dominantmode of technology progress will help enhancing the technology progress level ofsouthern states, and when the technical gap is large, the selection of technologyintroduction and the imitative innovation as the mode of leading technologicalprogress will help enhancing the technology progress level of southern states;(3) withthe technical gap of the North and South countries gradually narrowing, southerncountries will automatic choose the pattern of independent innovation;(4) the technology developing countries must pass certain threshold values of the level ofhuman capital, the level of economic development and the level of market if it wantto achieve technology progress path transformation that is from imitative innovationto independent innovation;(5) with the three "threshold values" progressively stridingacross, the late-development countries can develop the human capital accumulationstrategy and market promotion strategy following as technology progress path that iscompletely imitate innovation�'imitate innovation oriented�'independent innovationoriented�'completely independent innovation.The regional empirical analysis shows that:(1) when per capita GDP of an area isclose to65000yuan (TFP measuring of technical progress) or70000yuan (patentsmeasuring technical progress), the contribution of independent innovation totechnical progress is significantly higher, and in less than per capita GDP’s thresholdvalue, technology import on technology progress contribution is higher;(2) when theyears of average education is close to8.6years (TFP measuring of technicalprogress) or10.1years (patents measuring technical progress), the contribution ofindependent innovation to technical progress is significantly higher, and theintroduction of technology play a larger role in the region of lower level of humancapital;(3) when commercialize degree of an area is more than9.6(TFP measuringof technical progress) or9.8(patents measuring technical progress), the input ofindependent innovation will improve the area’s technical progress significantly;(4)above the results, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and the developed city of developedprovinces is suitable for independent innovation, because these regions are in linewith the independent innovation from the stage of economic development, thefoundation of human capital and market environment. While other areas that do notcross the corresponding threshold completely that the technology progress path ofindependent innovation.The industry empirical analysis shows that:(1) because the technology gap intraditional industry is bigger comparison with the developing countries, the traditionalindustry is still in the stage of playing technology backwardness advantage, therefore,taking exogenous technology progress path of imitative innovation has certainpositive on technology progress of traditional industry, but taking the endogenous technology progress path of independent innovation do not improve the level oftechnological progress significantly;(2) because the technology gap in emergingindustry is lesser comparison with the developing countries, taking endogenoustechnology progress path of imitative innovation has certain positive on technologyprogress of emerging industry, but taking the exogenous technology progress path ofindependent innovation do not improve the level of technological progresssignificantly.According to the theory and the empirical research conclusions, this article putsforward the following suggestions from the angle of national, regional and industrylevels:(1) From the national level, we should choose the path of technologicalprogress with Chinese characteristics on the foundation of the objectiveunderstanding of China’s innovation factor endowment; Technological progresscannot take “making it rigidly uniform" strategy, we should determine the regionhierarchy strategy from the national level; We should strengthen the accumulation ofhuman capital and the market process to across "threshold condition" of the pathconversion of technological progress.(2) From the regional perspective, developingarea should follow the comparative advantage, and make full use of the technicalsuperiority, and developed area should strengthen independent innovation tocatching-up following the competitive advantages; Regional technological progressshould take technical stratification advancement strategy.(3) From the industryperspective, we should take a "gradual path" to improve the technological progress oftraditional industry, and take a "one step path" to improve the technological progressof emerging industries.