earticle

영어

The Korean defence industry has made great effort to improve quality of technologies since late 1990s. This effort, however, is not regarded as being sufficient in particular for securing the core technologies in the high-tech weapon system. This paper examines TFP growth of the Korean defence industry, and finds its determinants mainly in terms of technical mobility in patents during the period 2000-2011. Empirical results indicate the following. First, the annual average TFP growth in the Korean defence industry is 6% and technical progress is the main contributor to the growth of TFP, indicating that the Korean defence industry has transformed into a innovative industry from a catching-up industry. Second, the effect of cumulated patents is positive on technical progress and TFP growth. Third, technical mobility of firms and inventors have negative and positive effects on TFP growth, respectively. These empirical results are applied to making policy implications for the sustainable and innovative growth of the Korean defence industry.