The net stock value of IPPs, which accounted for 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 1970, soared to 18.3 percent of GDP, or 252.7 trillion won (US$229.9 billion), in 2012. (image: Kobizmedia)
The net stock value of IPPs, which accounted for 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 1970, soared to 18.3 percent of GDP, or 252.7 trillion won (US$229.9 billion), in 2012, according to the data jointly compiled by the Bank of Korea (BOK), the country’s central bank, and Statistics Korea, the state statistics agency.
The portion of IPPs in fixed capital also increased in the cited period, more than tripling to 5.3 percent from 1.6 percent.
The rise was attributed to increased R&D spending. In 2012, the country spent 4 percent of its GDP on R&D, the highest portion among global economies. The amount it spent also ranked sixth after major economies such as the United States, Japan and China.
The data showed that the portion of IPPs in capital input growth has also increased over the cited period as the portion of construction assets and facility assets shrank.
The contribution rate of IPPs in capital supply growth reached 24.6 percent in 2012, compared with an average 3.9 percent from 1971-1979. The contribution rate of R&D also increased to 19.8 percent from 1.7 percent.
A BOK official said the contribution rate of IPPs to growth is likely to increase.
“It’s difficult to increase labor input due to demographic issues and the country’s already-high education level. The country’s portion of fixed capital against GDP has also increased to the level seen in advanced economies,” said Cho Tae-hyung, who heads the central bank’s state balance sheet division.
“Given those circumstances, R&D is likely to be a key factor in raising productivity of capital input,” said Cho.
(Yonhap)
