In recent years the European Union （EU） has struggled to become the leading force in the Knowledge Based Economy （KBE）. For that purpose, the EU defined the so-called ＂Lisbon Strategy＂. Additionally, since the s...In recent years the European Union （EU） has struggled to become the leading force in the Knowledge Based Economy （KBE）. For that purpose, the EU defined the so-called ＂Lisbon Strategy＂. Additionally, since the sixties the EU （formerly European Communities （ECs）） invested in human resources and in knowledge using the European Social Fund （ESF）. This research tries to assess analyse critically those ECs＇ and EUs＇ investments in knowledge in the light of the economic analysis of the knowledge market. It concludes that there is evidence that the ESF has been an important provider of knowledge in Europe, contributing to the increase of knowledge levels. However, it could be concluded that the economic consequences of that effort were not assessed properly; therefore, it is not clear what the effects of the investment were. The few studies I found that may base the sort of analysis I want to make point to small, if existing effects of the ESF were small. This in itself is an interesting finding that deserves careful consideration.展开更多
文摘In recent years the European Union （EU） has struggled to become the leading force in the Knowledge Based Economy （KBE）. For that purpose, the EU defined the so-called ＂Lisbon Strategy＂. Additionally, since the sixties the EU （formerly European Communities （ECs）） invested in human resources and in knowledge using the European Social Fund （ESF）. This research tries to assess analyse critically those ECs＇ and EUs＇ investments in knowledge in the light of the economic analysis of the knowledge market. It concludes that there is evidence that the ESF has been an important provider of knowledge in Europe, contributing to the increase of knowledge levels. However, it could be concluded that the economic consequences of that effort were not assessed properly; therefore, it is not clear what the effects of the investment were. The few studies I found that may base the sort of analysis I want to make point to small, if existing effects of the ESF were small. This in itself is an interesting finding that deserves careful consideration.
