Modeling the Dynamics of Science and Technology Diffusion of Selected Asian Countries Using a Logistic Growth Function

Science and technological production can be the result of a self-propagating growth in the process of diffusion. In the transition to a knowledge-based economy, many emerging Asian countries have attempted to raise their national investments to develop their science and technological capability. This study attempts to compare the growth behavior of science and technology of selected emerging countries (China, Malaysia, and Thailand) with that of the newly industrialized economies (NIEs) (Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan) using logistic growth function with a dynamic carrying capacity. Japan is also included in the study to provide a benchmark for advanced science and technological development. While a dynamic self-propagating growth is found for the science and technology of the NIEs, the corresponding growth potential is relatively lower and static for the emerging economics. Unlike in Japan where the growth potential of science and technology has seemingly reached a plateau, the NIEs are still reaping the dynamics of the interaction between science and technology, and the emerging economies are at the initial stage of this development process.