(Up to: Economy Driven Knowledge Knowledge Driven Economy )

Some notes of interest whilst reading through the 1998 White Paper "Building the Knowledge Driven Economy"...

Chapter One

• 1.3. Interesting to note that "[Britain's] productivity is 20—40 per cent behind [the US and the other leading European economies] and the gap with France and Germany is not closing," although really nothing unexpected.
• 1.4. As markets become more open and more unified, and competition more fierce, it seems reasonable to expect that the total number of enterprises across the area involved that fail will increase, as physical borders are removed and efficiency and conglomeration increase. Quite how this "natural effect" fits in with the white paper I'm not yet sure.

"Increasing pressure on our environment and natural resources presents new opportunities and challenges for business innovation." - ah, so oil running out and our tampering with the environment could be a good thing? Joy! * 1.5. ...in which we start to see the government admit that our traditional fortes of materials, land and labour have ow been undermined by other markets opening up around the world, and the concentration on "knowledge, skills and creativity". Are we to assume that foreigners are incapable of becoming creative too? * 1.7. "But success in the knowledge driven economy requires a shift in the business mind set: greater receptiveness to know-how and the ability to see its commercial potential" - hmm, perhaps the geek will rule the world after all... This also backs up my surmision that is purely an economy-driven knowledge, not a knowledge-driven economy, but that much was clear from the Executive Summary. * 1.8. Eww, this bit reads like its been through the washing machine on acid:

"These qualities will also be necessary if companies are to respond to society’s rising expectations for a better environment and seize the opportunities this creates for new and innovative types of goods and services that are more profitable, less damaging and ensure a better quality of life."

Thankfully, the Government were apparently bringing out guidelines for sustainable development in 1999, to be integrated (read "fitted around") this White Paper. Remember kids, business first, planet second. Will have to find where this paper lives... * 1.10. Basically admits that Britons are lazy workers ;)

[new page]

• 1.14. "The Government is determined to avoid introducing new regulations which will impose unwarranted costs on British business." - which is why, of course, they're totally against software patents. Oh wait, they're not? Oh, we wrote the draft laws? Ah.
• 1.16. The need for collaboration is true, but I always wonder, having now experienced a "free market" first hand, just how collaborative people get when forced into a competitive situation. I think the Govt will have its work cut out to promote friendly competition - that's a-whole-nother level, and one which would, it might seem, clash with itself.
• 1.20. The Government announces the "Competitiveness Index", "a set of competitiveness indicators to measure the UK’s progress", which to me sounds suspiciously like leading on to some kind of 'league table'. I suspect that in order to become truly competitive, UK business will need to undergo a relatively large change of attitude, rather than the carrot-and-stick approach applied to other areas such as schools and hospitals (where the approach is failing dramatically, IMHO).