Title: Innovation and economic complexity in BRICS

Authors: Priscila Rubbo; Claudia Tania Picinin; Luiz Alberto Pilatti

Addresses: Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR), 2106, Itacolomi Street, Pato Branco, Paraná, 85502-070, Brazil ' Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR), Avenida Monteiro Lobato, s/n – Km 04, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, 84016-210, Brazil ' Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR), 3165, Sete de Setembro Avenue, Curitiba, Paraná, 80230-901, Brazil

Abstract: This paper has the purpose of comparing the innovation index of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries with their economic complexity (EC) from 2011 to 2014. The research was constructed through two databases: the Atlas of Economic Complexity and the Global Innovation Index. The results show that India and Brazil declined the most in the innovation ranking. Russia had the worst drop in the EC ranking. China climbed up seven positions in the EC ranking, but presented stagnation in innovation. South Africa showed the most similarities in the comparison, climbing up in both rankings. The conclusion reached is that the EC ranking and the innovation ranking are not equivalent; they display discrepancies regarding the rises and declines among BRICS countries.

Keywords: BRICS; innovation; exports; complexity economics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKMS.2021.112222

International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies, 2021 Vol.12 No.1, pp.66 - 79

Received: 10 Sep 2019
Accepted: 10 May 2020
Published online: 05 Jan 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article