The Effects of Creative Climate on the Regional Economic Growth and the Total Factor Productivity of Korean Finns -A Panel Study of Electric and Electronic Finns of the Industrial Complex-

창의성 여건이 지역경제 성장과 기업 생산성에 미치는 영향 연구 - 한국산업공단내 전기.전자기업을 중심으로 -

The theory of creative class has shown that the creative people are the key factor of success in regional economic growth. The creative people strengthen the economic competitiveness which is crucial to attract, cultivate and mobilize the resources of that region. In order to examine the theory of creative class for regional economic growth and firm productivity in Korea, this study uses the panel data of 492 Korean firms of the industrial complex producing electic and electronic manufactured goods. They are grouped into 10 industrial complexes among 16 metropolitan areas. Our findings demonstrate that creative class and 3Ts are related to the ratio of creative population density and the regional economic growth. Specifically the creative core class is of more significance to the regional economic growth than the creative professional class or the creative artist class. In our findings the panel analysis of random effects model shows that the talent index of 3Ts as well as the regional climates arc related to the individual firm's total factor productivity. This also reflects a conglomeration of the other regional climates statistically. On the other hand, the research and development expenditure of individual firms shows positive influence for each second consecutive year for the total factor productivity. Sales volume also contributes to the total factor productivity. In conclusion, we recommend that it is important to upgrade the level of creative climates by attracting the creative minds and R&D investment of the enterprises for regional economic growth and firm's total factor productivity.